Potential benefits of social media in educating healthcare professionals and students on medical imaging with ionizing radiation: A scoping review

Abstract

Introduction

Advancements in medical imaging with ionizing radiation have significantly transformed the field and enhanced the education and training of medical professionals. A notable development in this educational landscape is the use of social media, which engages millions of users worldwide. This scoping review aims to explore the potential of social media as an educational tool for healthcare professionals and students in medical imaging with ionizing radiation, highlighting its benefits and disadvantages.

Methods

In March 2024, research was conducted on three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The research equation combined the terms “Social Media,” “Education,” and “Medical Imaging.” Data extraction was based on PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews.

Results

Seventeen articles published between 2017 and 2023 were included in this review, all of which were descriptive cross-sectional studies and primarily focused on popular platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The key advantages of social media use for medical imaging education were accessibility, ease of use, and broad reach, while the main limitation was the potential for misinformation.

Conclusion

While there is clear potential to integrate social media into medical imaging education, more must be done to understand their effectiveness. This ongoing process requires the active engagement of all stakeholders. While promising, further research is needed to validate social media as an educational tool.

Implications for practice

Successfully integrating social media into medical imaging education, thus enhancing learning, communication, and collaboration between healthcare professionals, requires a strong commitment to managing accurate and reliable content sources on social media.