(P-ED-7) Social media training during transfusion medicine fellowship: a proposed curriculum

Transfusion Medicine is a public facing field often requiring media statements under different circumstances. First, media is a significant resource to reach blood donors. Second, media is a valuable tool for educating people and addressing concerns regarding transfusion. Third, blood bank community is growing on social media to become an excellent source of education and networking. Responding to media requests and using social media is a valuable skillset.

Study

Design/Methods: We created a formal media training curriculum for transfusion medicine fellows. The people involved include public affairs, transfusion medicine physician, and transfusion medicine fellow. The learning environment include: a single-occupant office, microphone headset, computer camera, and videotelephony software. This elective training begins with a focus on facing the media and continues with professional social media use. Further details of the curriculum are provided in Table 1.

Results/Findings:

Kirkpatrick’s four levels of training evaluation were used for learner assessment. First level happened before the training, second and third levels immediately at the end of the training and fourth level later after the training. For first level, learners are asked to share how they expect the training experience will be relevant to their future career. This is answered by the learners prior to the training to encourage adult learner motivation. For second level, learners are asked to describe key points of interacting with media and social media. For third level, learners submit video recordings of their response to specific interviewer questions as well as screenshots of selected social media responses. For fourth level, learners are asked after graduation, how they have used their training to date.

Conclusions:

Facing news media and optimal usage of social media can be challenging. Having a formal training to develop the critical knowledge, skills, and behaviors of interacting with various media outlets is helpful.