JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Medical journals use Twitter to engage and disseminate their research articles and implement a range of strategies to maximize reach and impact

Objective:

To systematically review the literature to synthesize and describe the different Twitter strategies utilized by medical journals and its effect on journal impact and readership, to inform practice.

Methods:

A systematic search of the literature was conducted using 4 electronic databases and manual searches to locate peer-reviewed studies published before February 2020.

Results:

The search identified 44 original research studies that evaluated Twitter strategies implemented by medical journals and/or analyzed the relationship between twitter metrics with alternative and/or citation-based metrics. The key findings suggest promoting publications on Twitter improve citation-based and alternative metrics for academic medical journals. Moreover, implementing different Twitter strategies maximizes the amount of attention publications and journals receive. Four key Twitter strategies are implemented by medical journals: Tweeting the title and link of the article; infographics; podcasts and hosting monthly virtual journal clubs. Each strategy is successful in the promotion of publications but have differing metrics to measure success; costs; and effects on dissemination, readership, and translation of research findings.

Conclusions:

It is difficult to conclude which strategy is most effective Therefore, we recommend that journals and researchers incorporate a combination of Twitter strategies to maximize research impact and captivate an audience with a variety of preferred learning methods.