Using social media and online networking to develop the Geriatric Medicine Research Collaborative (GeMRC), United Kingdom (Preprint)
UNSTRUCTURED Traditional pathways to promote research collaboration typically take years to expand beyond individual institutions. Social media and online networking provides an innovative approach to promote research collaboration. We present the formation of the Geriatric Medicine Research Collaborative (GeMRC), United Kingdom: a national trainee-led research collaborative. This collaborative aims to facilitate research projects that will directly benefit older patients, improve research skills of geriatric medicine trainees, and to facilitate recommendations for healthcare policy for older adults. Our methods of collaboration are described; trainee-led meetings regionally, and at national conferences, e-mail communication, direct uploading of project material to our website, social media, and virtual meetings. Structured use of local, regional, and network leads has facilitated this. Having a clear virtual presence has been key to the rapid development of the network. The use of social media and online networking encouraged involvement of multiple regions early in the development of the collaborative, and allowed rapid dissemination of project ideas. This facilitated collection of large datasets and enhanced scientific validity of project outcomes. This has potential to transform geriatric medicine research, as older patients have been historically excluded from large commercial trials due to multimorbidity, frailty, and cognitive impairment. Perceived limitations to predominantly online or virtual collaboratives, including reduced accountability, and loss of interpersonal relationships are balanced by increased trainee engagement, high frequency of communication, and rapid access to a breadth of expertise. Utilization of virtual communication has potential to lead to future interspeciality, interprofessional, and international collaboration, and to accelerate research that improves outcomes for older adults.