Page 285 - SAHCS HIVMed Journal Vol 20 No 1 2019

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine
ISSN: (Online) 2078-6751, (Print) 1608-9693
Page 1 of 9 Original Research

A descriptive analysis of the role of a WhatsApp clinical

discussion group as a forum for continuing medical

education in the management of complicated

HIV and TB clinical cases in a group of doctors

in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Authors: Background: As South Africa’s (SA) HIV programme increases in size, HIV/TB cases occur
Joana Woods 1 that are often beyond the clinical scope of primary healthcare clinicians. In SA’s Eastern
Michelle Moorhouse 1
Lucia Knight 2 Cape (EC) province, health facilities are geographically widespread, with a discrepancy in
specialist availability outside of academic institutions. The aim of this study is to describe
Affiliations: WhatsApp and its use as an alternative learning tool to improve clinicians’ access to
1 Wits Reproductive Health
and HIV Institute (WRHI), specialised management of complicated HIV/TB cases.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Objectives: To analyse clinicians’ use of the WhatsApp chat group as a learning tool; to assess
2 School of Public Health, clinicians’ confidence in managing complicated HIV and TB patients after participating in the
University of the Western WhatsApp case discussion group; to describe the perceived usefulness of the chat group as a
Cape, Cape Town, South Africa learning tool; to understand clinicians’ knowledge and use of informed consent when sharing
patient case details on a public platform such as WhatsApp.
Corresponding author:
Joana Woods, Method: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among a group of clinicians
[email protected]
from the EC that formed part of a WhatsApp HIV/TB clinical discussion group. Data were
Dates: collected using a structured anonymous Internet questionnaire and analysed with Epi Info,
Received: 06 May 2019 using descriptive and analytic statistics.
Accepted: 13 June 2019
Published: 01 Aug. 2019 Results: The analysis found the majority of participants had gained new clinical confidence
from group participation. This was associated with the increased group engagement in
How to cite this article:
Woods J, Moorhouse M, group follow-up (odds ratio [OR] 48.13 [95% confidence interval [CI] 4.99–464.49]); in posting
Knight L. A descriptive analysis questions (OR 3.81 [95% CI 1.02–18.48]); in reports of ‘new’ clinical insights (OR 23.75
of the role of a WhatsApp [95% CI 3.95–142.88]); in referencing old case material (OR 21.42 [95% CI 4.39–104.84]) and in
clinical discussion group as a
forum for continuing medical the use of peer guidance to manage cases (OR 48.13 [95% CI 4.99–464.49]). However, there was
education in the management a discrepancy in participants’ knowledge and actual use of informed consent when posting
of complicated HIV and TB patient details on social media.
clinical cases in a group of
doctors in the Eastern Cape, Conclusions: Our study findings support the use of WhatsApp in a medical setting as an
South Africa. S Afr J HIV Med. effective means of communication, long distance learning and support between peers and
2019;20(1), a982. https://doi.
org/10.4102/sajhivmed. specialists.
v20i1.982
Keywords: Continuing medical education; HIV/TB; Eastern Cape; WhatsApp; Clinician.
Copyright:
© 2019. The Authors.
Licensee: AOSIS. This work Background
is licensed under the
Creative Commons Many nations face problems of inequitable access to healthcare services and the shortage of
Attribution License. suitably qualified healthcare professionals. An insufficient number of medical graduates; a
scarcity of postgraduate education; the migration of healthcare professionals and a critical
shortage of teaching faculty demonstrate a need for alternative approaches to improving the
retention of the healthcare workforce. A possible contributing solution to this problem is found
1
in continuing medical education (CME).
Read online:
Read online:
Scan this QR Countries must retain health professionals by providing them with opportunities for career
Scan this QR
code with your
code with your 2
smart phone or development, CME, motivation and support. The evidence shows that career development and
smart phone or
mobile device CME strongly motivate health professionals to stay in their own countries and to practise in
mobile device
to read online.
to read online.
remote areas. However, many health professionals struggle to access CME because of professional
3
http://www.sajhivmed.org.za 278 Open Access