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Closed Facebook™ groups and CME credit: a new format for continuing medical education

  • 2018 SAGES Oral
  • Published:
Surgical Endoscopy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The International Hernia Collaboration (IHC) is a closed Facebook™ group that allows international surgeons to post clinical questions and exchange transparent feedback with the intent to optimize patient outcomes. Despite the educational value of closed FB groups, CME credits have not been available to members. To determine feasibility of and user interest in earning CME credit through social media, the IHC piloted a series of expert lectures followed by an interactive Facebook Live session as a novel pathway offering CME credit.

Methods

Nine monthly lectures and Facebook Live sessions were presented. CME credit was offered for the final seven lectures. Participation in the form of views, comments, and likes was quantified by a Facebook analytics service and an engagement score, defined as [(the number of comments × 2) + (the number of reactions)], was calculated for each lecture and Facebook Live session. CME credit was obtained through a two-question quiz.

Results

Of 5400 + Facebook members of the IHC, an average of 1116 (20.4 ± 4.0%) viewed the live session event following each lecture (n = 9 events). The average Facebook engagement score for Facebook Live was 259 ± 75, a significant difference with the average Facebook engagement score on the IHC (40.8) over the same time period (p < 0.001). On average, 16 users [range 8–35, (n = 7 events)] claimed CME credit for each educational series.

Conclusions

Closed Facebook groups can be a useful media to offer educational content and CME credit. The pilot IHC Lecture and Facebook Live series offering CME credit resulted in significantly more engagement amongst its members compared to other posts during the same time period. A small portion of participants qualified for CME credit. Future social media educational series may increase participants qualifying for CME by streamlining the interface to obtain CME credit.

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Acknowledgements

Eric Pauli, Ryan Juza, David Chen, Jorge Daes, Rigoberto Alvarez, Sean Orenstein, Todd Ponsky, Sophia Abdulhai, Conrad Bellacer, Jarvis Walters, Shirin Towfigh, Ramana Balasubramaniam, and all members of the International Hernia Collaboration. We also thank Dr. Arghavan Salles for her assistance with statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mosaic Life Care, 5325 Faraon St., Saint Joseph, MO, 64506, USA

    Omar Ghanem

  2. Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Heather J. Logghe

  3. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Benjamin V. Tran & Brian Jacob

  4. Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Desmond Huynh

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  1. Omar Ghanem
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  2. Heather J. Logghe
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  3. Benjamin V. Tran
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  4. Desmond Huynh
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  5. Brian Jacob
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Correspondence to Omar Ghanem.

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Disclosures

Omar Ghanem, Heather J. Logghe, Benjamin V. Tran, Desmond Huynh, and Brian Jacob have no conflict of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Ghanem, O., Logghe, H.J., Tran, B.V. et al. Closed Facebook™ groups and CME credit: a new format for continuing medical education. Surg Endosc 33, 587–591 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6376-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6376-9

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