The role of a whatsapp clinical discussion group in the clinical management of covid-19 cases: an experience of tertiary care hospitals in punjab, pakistan | Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal 2020

Author(s)

Hafiza Swaiba Afzal Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal Pakistan

Nauman Aziz Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal Pakistan

Muhammad Waseem Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal Pakistan

Zahid Kamal Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal Pakistan

Ahmad Zeeshan Jamil Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal Pakistan

Muhammad Junaid Iqbal Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To assess the usefulness of the Whatsapp group made for managing the patients of COVID-19 at different govt. sector hospitals of Sahiwal, Punjab. Study Design: A web-based cross-sectional analytical survey. Place and Duration of Study: Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, from 1st June to 10th June 2020. Methodology: A validated questionnaire was distributed among 95 members of the Whatsapp group at Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal. Results were assessed by using SPSS version-24. Results: The response rate of our study was 75.78%. Most were younger than 30 years of age (69.40%) and majority (80.60%) belonged to clinical departments. Out of 58 clinical side doctors, 44 (75.86) belonged to medicine and allied departments while 14 (24.14%) belong to surgery and allied departments. Results showed that the helpful discussion in the group increased the confidence of the participants by 4.24 times with 95% C.I. of 2.76 to 6.52. Speedy management of the patients due to Whatsapp group also increased the confidence of the study participants by 6.30 times with 95% C.I. of 2.03 to 19.49. Discussions on Whatsapp group and increase in knowledge of participants related to COVID-19 through Whatsapp also helped participants to speed up the management of the patients by 3.77 times with 95% C.I. of 2.54 to 5.61. Conclusion: Hence our study concludes that the usefulness of the Whatsapp group for management of COVID-19 patients was very well perceived by our survey population. It increased their confidence in managing the patients of COVID-19.

Publication Details

Page(s) 539-545

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, Volume: 70, Issue: 2, Year: 2020

Keywords

Perceived Usefulness COVID19 Whatsapp group

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