Wasted Days & Wasted Nights? (Musings on transfusion professionals use of the Internet)

This month's blog muses on whether the Internet for health professionals is over-hyped. I'm particularly suspicious of applications that are meant to be interactive, not just users passively consuming information provided by others. 


Today's Internet is presumably about the interactive sharing of experiences that supposedly happens on blogs like this one, as well as on discussion forums and mailing lists. 


The blog's title comes from a 1959 song by Freddy Fender.


Based on my experience, Internet users  - meaning you - are definitely passive. Me too when visiting other blogs but I try to participate, at least occasionally, since working in cyberspace is a lot like this cartoon illustrates.

EXAMPLES - INTERACTIVE RESOURCES


1. Musings on Transfusion Medicine: This blog is written just for fun. A review of comments made on earlier blogs reveals very few, and mainly by kind-hearted colleagues who take pity on a friend. (Bringing out a big hanky now....)


Even the controversial blogs specifically designed to stimulate thinking get few, if any, comments, e.g., the last two on bullying and calling Canada's blood supplier vain. Yet, 1000s of transfusion professionals know about the blog via TraQ's monthly newsletter.


2. AABB's "Communities" open to members only (previously AABB forums): Just took a look and there's little activity and often by the same people. Why? AABB  has 1000s of members.


3. Canada's Transfusion Safety Officer "transfusion" mailing list: 200+ subscribers but few post questions.


4. CBBS e-Network Forum: Over the past year, discussion on e-Network Forum, a truly quality resource, has decreased significantly. 


Also, there's a request for new Associate Editor/Moderators, which suggests that long-time editor and founder Ira Shulman may have retired or is about to. 


5. BloodBankTalk - BB Talk is an active discussion group based in the USA. Unfortunately, participation is limited to a core of contributors, including an active UK contingent, whose contributions are uniformly of high quality.


OTHERS? If other web-based forums or mailing lists exist for transfusion medicine physicians or nurses, I'm unaware of them. Why don't they exist?


WHY THE LACK OF PARTICIPATION?
About mailing lists and web-based discussion forums, many possible reasons exist for the lack of participation. Some of the most obvious include


1. Too busy to use Internet resources for work purposes (most health professionals are stretched to the max). But we still spend time on Facebook, on conducting marginally productive Internet searches, on watching sports, and the like.


2. Fear of revealing weakness about not knowing. I suspect this is a biggie. Some may feel embarrassed to request help, thinking, "I should know this." Others may feel their employers may not appreciate an external request for advice.


3. Prefer to network privately since it offers more privacy and less risk of public exposure.


4. Distrust of sources whose qualifications and experience may be uncertain (even though many acknowledged experts now offer help via the Internet).


5. Lack of confidence in computer skills to use Internet effectively (perhaps more prevalent in older professionals?).


6. Boring content, not stimulating enough interest to participate.


If you can suggest other reasons, please add them in a comment below.


So the question arises, "Is today's Internet past its prime as a mechanism to ask and answer questions and participate in as a community?"  


FOR FUN


As I muse about why the silence, the song that comes to mind from a personal perspective is 

• Wasted Days and Wasted Nights (Freddy Fender, Rotterdam, 1979)

If you read this blog, please suggest topics to cover, keeping in mind that content should appeal to technologists, nurses, and physicians working in transfusion medicine. Controversy is okay and ideally should be food for thought. 

• From me to you (Beatles ditty)

As always, comments are most welcome BUT, due to excessive spam, please e-mail me personally or use the address in the newsletter notice.