#3774 The role of social media in nephrology training and continuous education: a survey-based analysis

Abstract Background and Aims The number of nephrology-related educational channels on social media (SoMe) has increased in recent years. Since 2020, the School of Nephrology at Università degli Studi di Milano (UNIMI) has built a community of over 1,600 nephrologists participating in online events. However, little is known about the role of SoMe in the professional development of Italian nephrologists. Method A multiple-choice questionnaire comprising 23 questions was administered to our followers – including residents and attending physicians, nephrologists and other specialists—through our channels. Each question utilized a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree). First, a descriptive analysis of responses was performed. Participants were then divided into subgroups (male/female; under/over 35 years old; residents/attending physicians), and a contingency table analysis was conducted using the Chi-square test for independence. Since some statistically significant differences emerged from minor variations between adjacent responses (e.g., strongly agree vs. agree), responses were reclassified into three categories: agree (including strongly agree and agree), neutral, and disagree (including disagree and strongly disagree). Statistical tests were repeated accordingly. Results We collected responses from 100 consecutive participants. 72% were female, 55% were under-35 years old, 85% were nephrologists (15% other disciplines), and 53% were residents. Social Media and Scientific Dissemination: 91% of participants found scientific dissemination via SoMe useful (Fig. 1A), and 75% regularly read scientific articles found through SoMe (Fig. 1B). Participation in Journal Clubs and Online Events organized from their own hospitals or faculties: 71% regularly attended internal journal clubs, with a higher frequency among those under-35 years old (75% vs. 66% of over-35, p 0.004) (Fig. 2A). Additionally, 76% regularly attended online events, particularly those over-35 years old (89% vs. 65% of under-35, p 0.027) (Fig. 2B). Participants did not perceive online events as lower quality than in-person ones. Impact on Research and Clinical Practice: among those who attended at least three events of our Nephrology School, 69% reported reading more scientific articles than before, and 64% stated that participation impacted their clinical practice. Surprisingly, this effect was stronger in the over-35 group (78% vs. 58% of under-35, p 0.038). Furthermore, 67% reported increased interest in research (Fig. 1C). Conclusion Social media represents a valuable tool for continuous medical education and specialist training, fostering engagement with nephrology research, particularly among younger physicians. The School of Nephrology at the Università degli Studi di Milano (UNIMI) has demonstrated that high-quality content can be created and effectively disseminated through SoMe. This approach should be encouraged by all Nephrology Schools and Scientific Societies. Further studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to provide a more comprehensive overview. Additionally, repeating the survey on the same participants could help assess the evolving role of SoMe in education, training, and clinical practice.