A social media intervention to improve hypoglycemia management at a multicenter hospital: a quality improvement pilot for clinical nurses

Contemp Nurse. 2018 Feb;54(1):44-51. doi: 10.1080/10376178.2018.1440180. Epub 2018 Mar 5.

Abstract

Background: Hypoglycemia poses significant risk to inpatients. Nursing management of hypoglycemia is a challenge, despite established best practice guidelines. Social media is an effective tool for sharing information and could overcome barriers to clinical education at a multicenter hospital.

Aims: The purpose of this quality improvement intervention was to create and disseminate social media posts about best practices in hypoglycemia management.

Design: An unmatched pre-and post-survey assessed nursing knowledge of hypoglycemia management.

Methods: Social media posts were created to visually outline the steps for hypoglycemia management over 2 weeks, across a nursing social media platform. We assessed the reach of the posts via Facebook and a survey.

Results: The posts reached 2962 users during the first week, and 1491 users the second week.

Conclusions: A social media intervention can have a substantial reach and distribute information across a multicenter hospital. Additional study is needed to determine what factors could support an increase in nursing knowledge through a social media campaign.

Keywords: diabetes; education; hypoglycemia; nursing; patient safety; quality improvement; social media; survey.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Education, Nursing / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / nursing*
  • Information Dissemination / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Care / standards*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / education*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Quality Improvement / standards*
  • Social Media*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires