Abstract
Background Medical education is a constantly evolving and multifaceted field that requires ongoing discussion and innovation. Social media platforms have emerged as a popular medium for disseminating information and engaging in professional discourse among medical educators. In particular, the hashtag #MedEd has gained widespread recognition amongst individuals and organizations within the medical education community. Our objective is to gain insights into the types of information and discussions surrounding medical education, as well as the individuals or organizations involved in these conversations. Methods Searches were conducted across major social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, using the hashtag #MedEd. The top 20 posts posted on these platforms were analyzed through a reflexive thematic analysis approach utilizing the Braun and Clarke method. Furthermore, an examination was conducted on the profiles of those responsible for posting the aforementioned top posts, to ascertain the degree of participation from individuals versus organizations within the broader discourse pertaining to the topic. Results Our analysis revealed three thematic categories associated with the usage of the #MedEd hashtag, including discussions on "continuous learning and medical case presentations," "medical specialties and topics," and "medical education pedagogy." The analysis revealed that social media can serve as a valuable platform for medical education by providing access to a diverse range of learning resources, fostering collaboration and professional networking, and providing innovative teaching methods. Furthermore, profile analysis showed that individuals were more actively involved in the discussion of medical education topics on social media compared to organizations across all three platforms. Conclusion Our study highlights the significant role that social media platforms play in facilitating the exchange of information and ideas within the medical education community. The hashtag #MedEd serves as a means of connecting individuals and organizations across the globe, enabling them to engage in professional discourse and stay informed on the latest developments in the field. Our findings suggest that a better understanding of the thematic categories and stakeholders involved in medical education discussions on social media can aid educators, learners, and organizations in enhancing their engagement with this dynamic field.