Balancing Privacy and Professionalism: A Survey of General Surgery Program Directors on Social Media and Surgical Education
Abstract
Purpose Unprofessional behavior is common among surgical residents and faculty surgeons on Facebook. Usage of social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter is growing at exponential rates, so it is imperative that surgery program directors (PDs) focus on professionalism within social media, and develop guidelines for their trainees and surgical colleagues. Our study focuses on the surgery PDs current approach to online professionalism within surgical education.Methods An online survey of general surgery PDs was conducted in October 2015 through the Association for Program Directors in Surgery listserv. Baseline PD demographics, usage and approach to popular social media outlets, existing institutional policies, and formal curricula were assessed.Results A total of 110 PDs responded to the survey (110/259, 42.5% response rate). Social media usage was high among PDs (Facebook 68% and Twitter 40%). PDs frequently viewed the social media profiles of students, residents, and faculty. Overall, 11% of PDs reported lowering the rank or completely removing a residency applicant from the rank order list because of online behavior, and 10% reported formal disciplinary action against a surgical resident because of online behavior. Overall, 68% of respondents agreed that online professionalism is important, and that residents should receive instruction on the safe use of social media. However, most programs did not have formal didactics or known institutional policies in place.Conclusions Use of social media is high among PDs, and they often view the online behavior of residency applicants, surgical residents, and faculty surgeons. Within surgical education, there needs to be an increased focus on institutional policies and standardized curricula to help educate physicians on social media and online professionalism.
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Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube were specifically targeted social media/social networking sites in 7 studies.
“Twitter [38,44,80,91,110], Instagram [101], and YouTube [37] were specifically targeted SM/SNSs in 7 studies.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
Among general surgery program directors, 18% reported visiting social media profiles of medical students applying for surgical residency.
“Among general surgery PDs, 18% reported visiting the SM profiles of medical students applying for surgical residency.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
Three reviewed studies investigated program directors' attitudes about use of social media for admission criteria.
“Three reviewed studies investigated PDs’ (medical and dental) attitudes about the use of SM for admission criteria [109,110,112].”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
Use of social media is higher among medical program directors, and they more often view online behavior of residency applicants, surgical residents, and faculty surgeons.
“Use of SM is higher among medical PDs, and they more often view the online behavior of residency applicants, surgical residents, and faculty surgeons [110].”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
Overall, 11% of program directors reported lowering the rank or completely removing a residency applicant from the rank order list because of online behavior.
“Overall, 11% of PDs reported lowering the rank or completely removing a residency applicant from the rank order list because of online behavior [110].”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube were specifically targeted social media or social networking sites in 7 studies.
“Twitter [38,44,80,91,110], Instagram [101], and YouTube [37] were specifically targeted SM/SNSs in 7 studies.”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
Studies most frequently associate unprofessional behavior on social media with online content pertaining to alcohol intoxication; substance or illegal drug use, nudity, and sexuality; demeaning content about patients, peers, educators, clinical sites, or the profession as a whole; discriminatory content; profanity; and aggressive or bullying content toward coworkers.
“Although there is no uniform consensus on what constitutes unprofessional behavior, studies most frequently associated it with online content pertaining to alcohol intoxication; substance or illegal drug use, nudity, and sexuality; demeaning content about patients, peers, educators, clinical sites, or the profession as a whole; discriminatory content; profanity; and aggressive/bullying content”
From Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
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References 5 · Cited by 82
- Authors
- Langenfeld, S. J., Vargo, D. J., & Schenarts, P. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Nebraska Medical Center (US)
- University of Utah (US)
- Corresponding author
- Langenfeld, Sean J.
- Venue
- Journal of Surgical Education
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-11
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- e28-e32
- ISSN
- 1878-7452 (ISSN-L)
- 1931-7204
- OpenAlex
- W2516272879
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 11.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of surgical education (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- social media, online professionalism, general surgery residency, program directors, surgical training, Facebook, Twitter, residency selection, privacy, professional conduct
- MeSH terms
- Confidentiality, Cross-Sectional Studies, Education, Medical, Graduate, Female, Humans, Internship and Residency, Male, Physician Executives, General Surgery, Utah, Privacy, Needs Assessment, Professional Misconduct, Social Media
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