The use of
social media has, in recent years, received lots of bad press such as ‘social
gatherings’ being turned into ‘British versions of Project X’, or the youth
police commissioner’s slightly unsavoury opinions being aired very publicly. It
has also been used with good intention, for example people attempting to
identify ‘suspects’ in the Boston bombings. Many people have concerns about
privacy and how easily accessible personal information can be accessed, however
Social Media sites such as Facebook and Twitter can have many benefits if used
wisely.
It is not
designed to replace real life, but to augment it, giving individuals access to
a wider community and with it, a far greater knowledge and opinion base. It can
be used to keep in touch with old friends, to play a part within a community,
engage in discussion, further explore topics and it gives people an
understanding of ‘online etiquette’.
In terms of
an Occupational therapy presence on social media sites all the well-known
bodies are to be found, The COT/BAOT has both Facebook and twitter, as does the
CAOT, AOTA and HCPC. The CAOT also has a blog! It is very easy to find Occupational
Therapists on both Facebook and Twitter, and there are many that blog too!!
There is
published guidance on the use of social media for Occupational Therapists
published by the College Of Occupational Therapists (COT) and generic APC
guidance from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
In the
Governments response (Patients first and foremost) to the Mid Staffs Inquiry
and the resulting Francis Report, acknowledged the efforts of “cross-profession Twitter chats between AHP groups
such as the occupational therapists (#OTalk) and nursing groups such as #WeNurses”
p31. As I have previously mentioned, OTs are using the hash tag #OTalk to engage
in a weekly chat on a particular topic. I had read these chats eagerly for a
while before participating in one on 2nd April about the transition from Student to Practitioner.
After participating in this chat I wrote a reflection on it (see later in
post), and was able to reflect on the idea of using social media participation
as a continuing professional development (CPD) activity. The COT and HCPC give
clear guidance on what is expected of an Occupational Therapist in terms of
CPD.
5.4 “You are personally
responsible for actively
maintaining and
continuing your professional
development and
competence, and for participating
in learning
opportunities over and above those which
are legally
required for your work. You must maintain
your continuing
professional development (CPD) to
meet the standards of proficiency for
registration
with the Health Professions Council.” -COT.
Reflecting
on talking part in #OTalk.
What happened?
Two things – firstly I was able
to participate in an informal CPD activity and secondly I had the opportunity
to discuss the transitional period from student to practitioner with people who
had either already experienced it, or were in the same position as me and were
nervous about that transition. I had often ‘lurked’ but never actively
participated, but was made to feel welcomed, and contributed to the
discussions.
Thinking and feeling?
I was a bit nervous, as I didn't want to get the ‘netiquette’ wrong, and
felt like someone may find my questions silly, but at the same time I felt
empowered – I had the opportunity to discuss and share things from OTs from
many different areas, both practice areas and geographical. It was a little
surreal that I was conversing with so many OTs in a very public domain, yet it
was so informal. I felt comforted by some of the points raised, as they were
concerned I shared, and the coping strategies and advice given were reassuring.
It was nice to hear other OTs who are now experienced and in practice had felt
how I am currently feeling. The main
point that stuck me was when it was said that it is important to be realistic
and not to expect too much from yourself.
Evaluation – Positive or negative?
It was a very positive experience. I was able to increase my knowledge
base, and network with people in the same profession, in a very unique way. It
is something that I have recommended to other of my course, as I found it
beneficial.
Analysis – Make sense of the situation
I was able to increase my communication skills in a very different way; it
was the use of an informal social networking platform, yet I was still required
to get my point across in a clear and concise way. 140 characters is very
little. I felt reassured, and welcomed
into a professional community that has a large presence on social media sites.
It allowed me to reflect on my own skills and strategies and take on board
advice and suggestions.
Conclusion –Could I have done anything else?
I need to make a conscious effort to participate more – due to work load
pressures at the moment I am not really finding the time. But I suppose that’s a
smart goal I can write for myself…
________________________________________________________________________
AOTA-
@AOTAInc
Labels: #OTalk, cpd, facebook, OT, social media, twitter
