Evaluation of the use of a Whatsapp Forum for the Daily Clinical Case Review in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a Teaching Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the use of a Whatsapp forum for a daily clinical case review in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. We used a Qualitative Action Research methodology, as the study involved an intervention; the introduction of a WhatsApp platform for daily morning case review; and exploration of what happened following the intervention using a feedback questionnaire. The 21 resident doctors and consultants who completed and returned the feedback questionnaire were the subjects of the study. Twenty-one out of the 29 doctors in the department (72.4%) participated in the study. Of the participants, 66.7% agreed or strongly agreed that the Whatsapp forum was an appropriate way of conducting the daily morning case review. Also, 76.2% of participants said that the learning via WhatsApp platform was different and created a forum for everyone to be in attendance and participate at their convenience. Hence, the vast majority of participants (81%) said that they would recommend Whatsapp morning review to other departments. Eighty-one per cent agreed or strongly agreed that the WhatsApp morning review motivated them to learn but what the Registrars liked the least about the WhatsApp review was 'the stress of typing and responding to long questions'. However, the Registrars felt safe and relaxed and said the Whatsapp approach 'reduced harassment and abuse of the junior doctors'. The WhatsApp forum is an appropriate and safe method of conducting the obstetrics and gynaecology daily medical case review especially during a Pandemic. It may be worth looking at using the WhatsApp forum as an additional learning tool in the department even after the COVID-19 pandemic.