Social media practices on Twitter: maximising the impact of cardiac associations

Gallagher, Robyn; Psaroulis, Trifon; Ferguson, Caleb; Neubeck, Lis; Gallagher, Patrick

Abstract

Twitter is a social media platform often used by cardiac professional associations to engage and inform their members and the public. However, the effectiveness of the strategy is seldom assessed or published. Aim: This study evaluates the Twitter activities of nine cardiac professional associations. Each organisation’s purpose and stakeholders were described individually and classified. Extracted Tweets (n=3920) were content-analysed and metrics were determined. Results: There was alignment between the associations’ mission statements and their Twitter activities. However, most Tweets were one-directional, disseminating research-based evidence/professional education materials and communicating association events and activities, as well as using hashtags to enable searching. Conclusion: Social media communication by cardiac professional associations through Tweets is an important activity; however, at present, the use of dialogue and conversations are not fully realised and could be used more strategically.

Citation

Gallagher, R., Psaroulis, T., Ferguson, C., Neubeck, L., & Gallagher, P. (2016). Social media practices on Twitter: maximising the impact of cardiac associations. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 11(10), 481-487. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjca.2016.11.10.481

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 22, 2016
• Publication Date: Oct 2, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 14, 2016
• Journal: British Journal of Cardiac Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1749-6403
• Electronic ISSN: 2052-2207
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 481-487
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjca.2016.11.10.481
• Keywords: Social media, Twitter, Cardiac professionals, Professional associations,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/403596