Using social media for building learning communities in healthcare

Abstract:
Social media is already being used effectively for sharing research information between and across healthcare groups. There is evidence of this activity from nursing and some fields of health sciences, including a range of activity metrics such as blogsite page views, Twitter Analytics reports, Symplur, SPREDFAST.

In addition to transfer of relevant research information, it is essential that we also consider the need for supporting active learning and implementation of research into practice.

Using a framework of Implementation Science and the concept of Communities of Practice, this presentation will highlight key aspects of learning theory and mentorship, that are needed for structured learning by credible voices and opinion leaders.

Author bio:
Dr. Hazel Roddam is a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) with 25 years’ experience as a clinician in UK health and education organizations, before joining the Allied Health research unit at University of Central Lancashire in 2006.  Hazel worked as a Specialist SLT in the field of motor movement disorders and learning disabilities and established a national reputation for her work in Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) technologies and Dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing disorders). 

Since 1999 Hazel has focused on promoting evidence-based practice (EBP) across a wide range of healthcare professions, and on supporting research capacity building in clinical services. Hazel works with individual practitioners and teams to raise their awareness of the research environment, to implement research evidence into practice, to undertake practice-based research, and to disseminate innovative good practice.

Hazel is Vice Chair of the UK Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) national Strategy Board. She is Director of the online Research Support Network (ReSNetSLT) and Co-Director of Advancing Dysphagia Practice (ADP).