Accepted for publication in Genetics in Medicine
A citation and publication link will be added when the published record is available.
This page summarizes a study of EveryGene's Instagram-based pediatric genetics education. The study examined engagement, learner perceptions, and short-term quiz performance using the @every.gene account as a case study.
The manuscript is titled "Utilizing Instagram for Pediatric Genetic Education: A Case Study, User Insights, and Evaluation of Knowledge Retention." Its authors are Maxwell Lee Summerlin, Jaclyn Paige Souder, Brady Slater, Lauren Kastner, and Michelle Kiger.
What the researchers evaluated
The project combined 12 months of Instagram post metrics, a voluntary anonymous follower survey, and a pre/post educational quiz. The quiz study spanned approximately 30 days and included 21 days of Instagram-distributed educational content.
These measures answer different questions. Engagement describes how people interact with posts. Survey responses describe perceptions and reported use. Paired quiz results describe performance among participants who completed both assessments.
What the study found
| Measure | Finding |
|---|---|
| Survey participation | 90 respondents |
| Interactive posts rated most helpful | 88 of 90 respondents (97.8%) |
| Moderate to significant perceived knowledge improvement | 60 of 90 respondents (66.6%) |
| Use for genetics-related examination study | 30 of 74 respondents who had taken such an exam (40.5%) |
| Pre-intervention quiz completion | 54 participants |
| Paired quiz completion | 16 participants |
| Median quiz score among paired participants | 70% before and 80% after |
Humor-based Reels had the highest average engagement, reach, video plays, and follower growth among the formats studied. This engagement finding is separate from the quiz outcome.
What the findings mean for learners
The results suggest that Instagram may be a useful supplement for engagement and short-term reinforcement of pediatric genetics knowledge. They do not establish that Instagram caused the observed improvement.
Explore the educational resources
Follow EveryGene on Instagram for genetics education. Explore the free study resources for more structured practice, or learn about EveryGene Academy.