Evelyn Ting-Hsuan Tang1,2, Mei Goh3, Raymond Goh4, Samir M Ghoraba5, Mark Shafarenko6, Pei-Tzu Hung1,7,8, Jung-Ju Huang1, Cheng-Fong Chu1, Soo-Ha Kwon1, Angela Ting-Wei Hsu1,2, Jennifer An-Jou Lin1, Che-Hsiung Lee1, Tommy Nai-Jen Chang1. 1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical College, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 2. Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 3. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery, Gold Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia. 4. Valley Plastic Surgery, Queensland, Australia. 5. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. 6. Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 7. Department of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 8. Shuang Ho Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine if International Microsurgery Club (IMC) is an effective online resource for microsurgeons worldwide, in providing an avenue for timely group discussions and advice regarding complicated cases, and an avenue for collaboration and information sharing. METHODS: All posts on the IMC Facebook group from member 1 to 8,000 were analyzed according to inclusion criteria and categorized into three categories-case discussion, question, and information sharing. Posts were retrospectively analyzed for number of responses, time of responses, number of "likes," number of treatment options, time of day, and demographics of authors and responders. RESULTS: A retrospective analysis of 531 cases showed an average response rate of 75.7% within 1 hour and as membership grew. The response rate stabilized averaging between 72.5 and 78% across all times of the day. An average of 11.8 microsurgeons was involved per case discussion, and 5.7 treatment options were provided per case. CONCLUSION: IMC is shown to be an effective resource to allow microsurgeons to access timely advice from other microsurgeons without time and distance limitation, and to have interactive group discussions on complicated cases. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine if International Microsurgery Club (IMC) is an effective online resource for microsurgeons worldwide, in providing an avenue for timely group discussions and advice regarding complicated cases, and an avenue for collaboration and information sharing. METHODS: All posts on the IMC Facebook group from member 1 to 8,000 were analyzed according to inclusion criteria and categorized into three categories-case discussion, question, and information sharing. Posts were retrospectively analyzed for number of responses, time of responses, number of "likes," number of treatment options, time of day, and demographics of authors and responders. RESULTS: A retrospective analysis of 531 cases showed an average response rate of 75.7% within 1 hour and as membership grew. The response rate stabilized averaging between 72.5 and 78% across all times of the day. An average of 11.8 microsurgeons was involved per case discussion, and 5.7 treatment options were provided per case. CONCLUSION: IMC is shown to be an effective resource to allow microsurgeons to access timely advice from other microsurgeons without time and distance limitation, and to have interactive group discussions on complicated cases. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.