Table 1.
Types of Platforms Used in Digital Strategies for Dissemination of Information in Infectious Diseases
Platform | Strengths and Pitfalls | Examples |
---|---|---|
Blogs | Specialty writing, generally limited audience More expeditious publication than peer-reviewed articles, with more relaxed writing style May need additional social media dissemination to reach wider audience |
Dr. Bobbi Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites https://parasitewonders.blogspot.com/ Dr. Paul Sax: HIV and ID Observations https://blogs.jwatch.org/hiv-id-observations/ Dr. Boghuma Titanji: The ID Doc http://theiddoc.net/ IDStewardship: Promoting Clinical Pharmacy & Antimicrobial Stewardship (multiple contributors): https://www.idstewardship.com/ Microcosm: the blog of the Diagnostic Bacteriology Laboratory at the Singapore General Hospital https://10minus6cosm.tumblr.com Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention (multiple contributors) https://haicontroversies.blogspot.com/ Science Speaks: Global ID News: https://sciencespeaksblog.org/ |
Op Ed’s in lay press | Wider audience including non-healthcare professionals, but harder to get these pieces accepted | Dr. Peter Hotez (eg, , NYT Jan 2020: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/opinion/vaccine-hesitancy.html) Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis (eg, , Newsweek September 2020: https://www.newsweek.com/rushing-covid-19-vaccine-risks-leaving-behind-people-most-risk-opinion-1530761) |
Social Media | Twitter: Microblogging platform with photo/video capabilities; Can unite multiple groups over a single topic using carefully curated hashtag Instagram: photo sharing platform Facebook: photos/videos + long-form blogging |
@IDJClub https://twitter.com/IDJClub @ASP_Chat https://twitter.com/asp_chat @UNMC_ID https://twitter.com/UNMC_ID @SHEAEpi https://twitter.com/SHEA_Epi @SIDPharm https://twitter.com/SIDPharm @HIVMA https://twitter.com/HIVMA @PIDS https://twitter.com/PIDSociety @MSG_ERC https://twitter.com/MSG_ERC @IPACCanada https://twitter.com/IPACCanada ASM https://www.instagram.com/ASMicrobiology/ WHO https://www.instagram.com/who/?hl=en IDSA https://www.instagram.com/idsafoundation/ Soc Bras de Infectologiaa https://www.instagram.com/sbinfecto/?hl=en Sociedad de Enfermedades Infecciosas de Panamá.ahttps://www.instagram.com/infectologiapanama/?hl=es-la IDSA: https://www.facebook.com/IDSociety/ |
Video communication | Each week the one-hour teleconference focuses on timely issues of relevance to clinicians and features case presentations by experts in the field, synthesis of new data, and an opportunity to engage with colleagues during Q&A and discussion. | CDC/IDSA COVID-19 Clinician Calls and Media Briefings: https://www.idsociety.org/multimedia/ SHEA Weekly Town Halls https://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls/index.asp |
Podcasts | Time intensive; must have ongoing content, with engaging hosts/guests | This Podcast Will Kill You (hosted by epidemiologists Drs. Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke) https://thispodcastwillkillyou.com/ IDSA COVID-19 podcast https://www.idsociety.org/multimedia/ Breakpoints the SIDP Podcast https://www.sidp.org/Podcasts |
Websites/Resource Center | Comprehensive resources for linking information to guideline, publications | IDSA COVID-19 Real-Time Learning Network: https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/ SIDP COVID-19 Resources: https://www.sidp.org/covid19 Sinai Health System – University Health Network Antimicrobial Stewardship Program https://www.antimicrobialstewardship.com/ |
Preprint publications | Pre-publication peer review, early dissemination of research | MedRxiv https://www.medrxiv.org/ BioRxiv https://www.biorxiv.org |
Visual abstracts and Infographics | Digestible research dissemination | Emory University Weekly COVID-19 Literature Round-Up https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/covid19roundup/visual-abstracts/ |
Guidelines | Issued by expert panels for organization that streamline processes or approaches to clinical management. |
https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/covid-19-guideline-infection-prevention/ https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/covid-19-guideline-diagnostics/ |
Apps | Quick access to guidelines and focused information | Sanford Guide Johns Hopkins Guide IDSA Practice Guidelines |
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