Using Twitter to mobilise knowledge for First Contact Physiotherapists - A qualitative study

Campbell, Laura Helen

Abstract

Background - First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) specialise in supporting people who consult with musculoskeletal conditions in National Health Service primary care. Cited FCP role challenges include professional isolation, time demands and changing professional and policy contexts.

The evidence-to-practice gap is the delay between research knowledge being created and subsequently used in clinical practice and can result in patients not benefiting from healthcare advances. Knowledge mobilisation aims to close this gap by using different types of best available knowledge to support clinical decision making and optimise care. Twitter, though commonly used, has not yet been explored as a source of knowledge to inform FCP clinical practice.

Methods - Semi-structured interviews with UK musculoskeletal FCPs (n=19) took place following purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analysed thematically and the knowledge mobilisation mindlines model was selected as a lens through which to further interpret the data. A Stakeholder Advisory Group including public members informed the study methods, topic guides and dissemination of the findings.

Results - This study demonstrates how Twitter can meet FCP needs by providing rapid access to succinct, current and diverse knowledge to inform clinical practice. Twitter provides opportunities to overcome professional isolation and for clinical reassurance from peers. FCPs casually scrolled for knowledge, needed to filter knowledge for credibility and appreciated tweets with images or infographics. FCPs adapt knowledge from Twitter for offline training and clinical practice, however despite their clinical expertise and experience, most did not feel confident or safe to share their own knowledge and opinions online. This was due to witnessing ‘unprofessional’ and hostile behaviour online and misinformation and privacy concerns.

Conclusions - Twitter offers a platform to mobilise knowledge to FCPs. Recommendations to enable confident knowledge sharing include FCP and Knowledge Mobiliser training, governance guidance for professional bodies and establishment of FCP Twitter networks.

Citation

Campbell, L. H. (2023). Using Twitter to mobilise knowledge for First Contact Physiotherapists - A qualitative study. (Thesis). Keele University

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 19, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2023
• Award Date: 2023-06