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OUR NEW STUDY out @JAMAInternalMed is on personal attacks & sexual harassment of physicians on social media.
Authors on #MedTwitter here and 1st author med student
@traependergrast & @ShikhaJainMD @MDaware @MikeGisondi @ShikhaJainMD @NikiWoitowich https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774727
Authors on #MedTwitter here and 1st author med student
@traependergrast & @ShikhaJainMD @MDaware @MikeGisondi @ShikhaJainMD @NikiWoitowich https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774727
This paper is the result of a survey we did on social media in Feb-Mar 2019 so pre pandemic. We posted a @Bitly link daily on our accounts to track engagement. 464 completed our survey of 1103 views (42%).
~1 in 4 physicians on social media reported being attacked. No diff by gender. Most common reason: advocacy on vaccines & other public health issues like gun control. Attacks on race & religion too. Reports of employers being called, getting doxxed, and even death threats.
Women physicians on social media faced another issue. 1 in 6 reported online sexual harassment. Mostly receiving lewd photos without consent but also threats of rape were described including one threat by White supremacists. complete table of what was described:
In the pandemic with increased presence of physicians & other science voices engaged in public health advocacy online, it’s likely that rates of attacks and harassment post pandemic even higher. Saw @angie_rasmussen @ashishkjha here. Too many like this https://www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2020/12/31/they-were-experts-in-viruses-and-now-in-pitfalls-of-fame
Doctors may face additional stress and consequence due to social media advocacy compounding work stress. As doctors asked to take a role in public health advocacy for vaccines #igottheshot, important to consider safety/wellbeing. @bruce_y_lee @NicoleB_MD https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/01/19/how-this-pro-vaccination-video-went-viral-but-resulted-in-threats-against-pediatrician/
Women physicians in particular are at double risk and could leave social media altogether which would eliminate any professional benefit they would gains as @JulieSilverMD and @SashaShillcutt have eloquently highlighted #WomenInMedicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMms1801980
Given the current climate and the increasing role of physicians, public health professionals and scientists on social media, we need to better support these individuals experiencing online attacks and advocate for safeguards. Free speech should not be a license for death threats.
As our nation faces the challenge of promoting widespread mass vaccination in the face of vaccine hesitancy, it is imperative that we support doctors, scientists, and public health professionals to use social media for positive messaging without fear of retaliation, & harassment.
See @traependergrast 
for further thoughts here esp on why we more research and likely consideration especially for marginalized identities on social media is also needed https://twitter.com/traependergrast/status/1346128078200832000?s=21 https://twitter.com/traependergrast/status/1346128078200832000
for further thoughts here esp on why we more research and likely consideration especially for marginalized identities on social media is also needed https://twitter.com/traependergrast/status/1346128078200832000?s=21 https://twitter.com/traependergrast/status/1346128078200832000
Special 
to #MedTwitter for your responses. While there are downsides to this platform a huge upside is we aren’t alone. I look forward to discussing this paper & social media advocacy in pandemic with @Bob_Wachter @KBibbinsDomingo for @UCSF grand rounds on Jan 21.
to #MedTwitter for your responses. While there are downsides to this platform a huge upside is we aren’t alone. I look forward to discussing this paper & social media advocacy in pandemic with @Bob_Wachter @KBibbinsDomingo for @UCSF grand rounds on Jan 21.
