Smartphones let surgeons know WhatsApp: an analysis of communication in emergency surgical teams
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
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Outdated communication technologies in healthcare can place patient safety at risk.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.
Outdated communication technologies in healthcare can place patient safety at risk.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.
Date Issued
2015-01-01
Date Acceptance
2014-07-31
Citation
American Journal of Surgery, 2015, 209 (1), pp.45-51
ISSN
0002-9610
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
45
End Page
51
Journal / Book Title
American Journal of Surgery
Volume
209
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
National Institute for Health Research
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000346121100008&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
NF-SI-0510-10186
RDPSC 79560
RDPSC 79560
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Surgery
Communication
Information technology
Patient safety
mHealth
OPERATING-ROOM
FAILURES
CLINICIAN
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2014-10-22