SAT-489 AUDIT OF A WHATSAPP BASED CONTINUING EDUCATION PLATFORM TO FACILITATE ON THE JOB FORMAL LEARNING TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF CARE DELIVERED AMONG HAEMODIALYSIS NURSES

Abstract

WhatsApp messaging is a common internet based communication tool among smart phones users across East Africa. Medical and nursing communities have reported successful educative initiatives via this messaging platform. Continuing nephrology education (CNE) was provided on a single WhatsApp group to the hemodialysis nurses of the organization across Rwanda and Tanzania since January 2019. This tool was used as a CNE channel for informal learning via group chats, enabling the sharing of large data files (e.g. photos, videos, short voice messages, documents in powerpoint, word or in portable document formats) at no added costs on a common platform. In this study, the contents of this WhatsApp group was audited to determine content of interest and provided formats to incentivise frequent access and use for learning especially when employed in a busy and shift based work schedule in hemodialysis units. All communication within the organization occurs across multiple WhatsApp groups. Seventy nursing and physician staff of AHN, who had access to a smart phone, were introduced and added to these groups of the CNE WhatsApp channels upon appointment. Group administrators were gate-keepers for the quality of material inserted with no forwards or confidential patient information permitted into the CNE group without appropriate checks and validation. While those without smart phone access missed out on the WhatsApp communication, they occasionally received materials via e-mail. The permitted content included reporting of weekly topic discussions from each center, case discussions, 1-2 page short simplified topic inserts for relaxed reading, internally prepared or external videos, text books and notes, and messages as educative instructions for processes, protocols and operations within the unit. Between January and October 2019, 1,662 WhatsApp messages were analyzed for content and popularity of format from across our dialysis centers. These included 179 weekly topic discussion reports, 40 practical case discussions, 97 educative pages, 4 internal and 15 external video messages, 11 messages including textbooks and notes and 42 messages as educative instructions. Practical case discussions on day-to-day hemodialysis patient management found the most uptake. Simple and short educative pages were well received by clinicians due to time constraints related to work. Short educative videos (e.g. on infection control), either prepared internally or externally, were also very popular. Finally, WhatsApp reporting of mandatory once weekly academic topic discussionsenabled comprehensive monitoring and allowed for clarification, answering questions and peer-to-peer interactions across the board garnering interest and learning within the group. The use of WhatsApp to provide CNE among our hemodialysis nurses created an excellent method for informal education. Simple and effective renal education message content, tailored to suit busy schedules and practical to the workplace, can improve quality of care and patient outcomes.