Journal of Abdominal Wall Surgery (Jan 2022)

Leveraging Twitter and its Unique #HashTag Capability: A Novel Social Media Resource From the European Hernia Society

  • Hakan Gök,
  • Hakan Gök,
  • Kristian K. Jensen,
  • Kristian K. Jensen,
  • Maciej Pawlak,
  • Maciej Pawlak,
  • Barbora East,
  • Barbora East,
  • Enis Pendar,
  • Shirin Towfigh,
  • Richard Brady,
  • Andrew de Beaux,
  • Andrew de Beaux

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/jaws.2021.10018
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1

Abstract

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Background: Digital and Social Media (#SoMe) platforms have revolutionized the way information is shared, classified and accessed among medical professionals worldwide. The aim of this study was to review the hashtags used on Twitter by @EuroHerniaS to provide a practical roadmap for easier social media utilization for hernia surgery stakeholders.Methods: The hashtags used in tweets and retweets of the @EuroHerniaS Twitter feed were collated since its foundation in November 2016.Results: The first hashtag used was #HerniaSurgery. Since foundation to July 2021, the @EuroHerniaS Twitter feed has used 90 separate hashtags. The number of new hashtags per year was increasing leading to the development of an online library. The increasing diversity of hernia related hashtags allows for the more detailed posting and searching of hernia related information on the #SoMe platform Twitter.Conclusion: The more detailed use of hashtags on Twitter is to be encouraged. Hernia surgeons can make use of them both when posting and reviewing posts to aid the categorization of posts.

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