Abstract
Abstract Introduction: The impact of COVID-19 social restrictions on mental wellbeing of health professional students during placement is largely unknown. Conventional survey methods do not capture emotional fluctuations. Increasing use of smartphones suggests short message service (SMS) functionality could provide easy, rapid data. This project tested the feasibility and validity of gathering data on Therapeutic Radiography student mental wellbeing during clinical placement via emoji and SMS. Methods: Participants provided anonymous daily emoji responses via WhatsApp to a dedicated mobile phone. Additional weekly prompts sought textual responses indicating factors impacting on wellbeing. A short anonymous online survey validated responses and provided feedback on the method. Results: Participants (n = 15) provided 254 daily responses using 108 different emoji; these triangulated with weekly textual responses. Feedback concerning the method was positive. ‘Happy’ emoji were used most frequently; social interaction and fatigue were important wellbeing factors. Anonymity and opportunity to feedback via SMS were received positively; ease and rapidity of response engendered engagement throughout the 3-week study. Conclusions: The use of emoji for rapid assessment of cohort mental wellbeing is valid and potentially useful alongside more formal evaluation and support strategies. Capturing simple wellbeing responses from a cohort may facilitate the organisation of timely support interventions.
Highlights
The impact of COVID-19 social restrictions on mental wellbeing of health professional students during placement is largely unknown
Risk factors for loneliness before and during the pandemic appear unchanged,[1] young adults aged 18–30 reported increased levels of loneliness.[1,3]. This risk is exacerbated for health professional students moving into clinical placements that may be remote to family support networks
Relative prevalence of Common Locale Data Repository (CLDR) groups over each block of data collection is presented in Figure 1; it can be seen that ‘happy’ faces were used most frequently
Summary
The impact of COVID-19 social restrictions on mental wellbeing of health professional students during placement is largely unknown. Increasing use of smartphones suggests short message service (SMS) functionality could provide easy, rapid data. This project tested the feasibility and validity of gathering data on Therapeutic Radiography student mental wellbeing during clinical placement via emoji and SMS. Methods: Participants provided anonymous daily emoji responses via WhatsApp to a dedicated mobile phone. A short anonymous online survey validated responses and provided feedback on the method. Anonymity and opportunity to feedback via SMS were received positively; ease and rapidity of response engendered engagement throughout the 3-week study. Recent evidence[2] suggested that data collection of this type should align with respondent culture, behaviours and values, when loss of control over situations such as social distancing can engender non-participation
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