Live tweeting in medicine: ‘Tweeting the meeting’

Abstract

Medical conferences create an opportunity for lifelong learning for healthcare practitioners. The use of Twitter at such conferences continues to expand. This article focuses on how Twitter can be used by physicians and other healthcare providers at regional, national and international conferences, and also at local conferences, such as grand rounds. It also addresses the potential utility of Twitter chats and journal clubs in the promotion of lifelong learning. The impact of Twitter use in healthcare in general, and specifically at conferences, and how it can be measured, is discussed.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Emily Webber for useful discussions and encouragement regarding tweeting grand rounds.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.