Maximilian J Johnston1, Dominic King2, Sonal Arora3, Nebil Behar4, Thanos Athanasiou5, Nick Sevdalis3, Ara Darzi5. 1. Centre for Patient Safety and Service Quality, Department of Surgery and Cancer, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK. Electronic address: m.johnston@imperial.ac.uk. 2. Centre for Health Policy, Department of Surgery and Cancer, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK. 3. Centre for Patient Safety and Service Quality, Department of Surgery and Cancer, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK. 4. Department of Surgery, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. 5. Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Outdated communication technologies in healthcare can place patient safety at risk. This study aimed to evaluate implementation of the WhatsApp messaging service within emergency surgical teams. METHODS: A prospective mixed-methods study was conducted in a London hospital. All emergency surgery team members (n = 40) used WhatsApp for communication for 19 weeks. The initiator and receiver of communication were compared for response times and communication types. Safety events were reported using direct quotations. RESULTS: More than 1,100 hours of communication pertaining to 636 patients were recorded, generating 1,495 communication events. The attending initiated the most instruction-giving communication, whereas interns asked the most clinical questions (P < .001). The resident was the speediest responder to communication compared to the intern and attending (P < .001). The participants felt that WhatsApp helped flatten the hierarchy within the team. CONCLUSIONS: WhatsApp represents a safe, efficient communication technology. This study lays the foundations for quality improvement innovations delivered over smartphones.
BACKGROUND: Outdated communication technologies in healthcare can place patient safety at risk. This study aimed to evaluate implementation of the WhatsApp messaging service within emergency surgical teams. METHODS: A prospective mixed-methods study was conducted in a London hospital. All emergency surgery team members (n = 40) used WhatsApp for communication for 19 weeks. The initiator and receiver of communication were compared for response times and communication types. Safety events were reported using direct quotations. RESULTS: More than 1,100 hours of communication pertaining to 636 patients were recorded, generating 1,495 communication events. The attending initiated the most instruction-giving communication, whereas interns asked the most clinical questions (P < .001). The resident was the speediest responder to communication compared to the intern and attending (P < .001). The participants felt that WhatsApp helped flatten the hierarchy within the team. CONCLUSIONS: WhatsApp represents a safe, efficient communication technology. This study lays the foundations for quality improvement innovations delivered over smartphones.
Authors: Guy Martin; Ankur Khajuria; Sonal Arora; Dominic King; Hutan Ashrafian; Ara Darzi Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2019-04-01 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Guy S Handelman; Ailin C Rogers; Zafir Babiker; Michael J Lee; Morgan P McMonagle Journal: Intern Emerg Med Date: 2018-04-28 Impact factor: 3.397