Empowering medical oncologists: Exploring the impact and engagement of telegram channels for professional development in Russia.

Abstract

9041 Background: Social media use has gained popularity among medical professionals, with X being one of the most popular platforms globally by medical oncologists. Physicians worldwide use it for conference communication, sharing scientific articles, breaking geographical barriers, and engaging with peers globally. Recently, there has been increasing interest in leveraging former Twitter as an educational tool among medical oncologists, proving effective for accessing the latest news and sharing opinions. However, lot of social networks are unavailable in Russia, prompting a surge in interest in other social media platforms. Over the past three years, numerous Professional Medical Channels have emerged on Telegram, a popular platform among Russian speakers worldwide. Here, we describe the extensive use, engagement, and professional impact within the medical oncology community utilizing these educational channels. Methods: We analyzed Medical Oncology Telegram Channels with over 2 thousand followers. The authors (all practicing oncologists) share conference news, conduct tumor boards, clinical cases and other high yield educational materials. Ensuring the authors' credibility as established physicians in the oncology community, we analyzed engagement metrics, follower counts, and conducted an online survey among users to assess the channels' impact on daily medical practice. We present the results of this analysis. Results: We analyzed Telegram medical oncology channels with over 2 thousand followers, averaging 6,354 followers each. The average post reached 2,260 users, with 53% of followers engaging with posts. The online survey comprised 338 medical professionals, including practicing medical oncologists (41%), community-based oncologists (11.5%), surgical oncologists (19.6%), oncology residents (19.6%), medical students (9%), and other medical professions. Most respondents (95%) were based in Russia, with smaller percentages from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Israel. When asked about the channels' impact on daily clinical practice, 33% reported significant changes, 50.6% reported slight changes, and 16.3% noticed no change. Additionally, 87.6% felt more confident in treatment choices due to shared information. Respondents also noted increased job satisfaction and support in combating physician burnout, with 83.3% expressing a sense of community and support through these channels. Conclusions: Telegram channels are gaining traction among Russian-speaking medical professionals, offering a new avenue for sharing medical updates, conference coverage, exchanging ideas, and fostering community. Especially during challenging times, such support is crucial. Further research is warranted to explore how social media engagement can enhance professional development among Russian-speaking medical oncologists.