Table 3 Comparison of perceived advantages and disadvantages of WhatsApp consultations between primary care physicians and medical specialists.
From: WhatsApp Tele-Medicine – usage patterns and physicians views on the platform
Primary Care physicians (n = 153), N (%) | Medical Specialists (n = 48), N (%) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
How much has WhatsApp improved healthcare delivery?a Mean (SD) | 5.22 (0.85) | 4.71 (1.11) | .005 |
What are the main advantages of WhatsApp? | |||
Media sharing | 136 (88.9) | 39 (81.3) | 0.169 |
Rapid counseling | 106 (69.3) | 24 (50) | .015 |
Answering when comfortable | 69 (45.1) | 28 (58.3) | 0.109 |
Ventilating with colleagues | 44 (28.8) | 8 (16.7) | 0.095 |
Keeping informed on medical updates | 36 (23.5) | 12 (25) | 0.835 |
Refining content of consultation | 36 (23.5) | 12 (25) | 0.835 |
How much has WhatsApp harmed the clinical setting?a Mean (SD) | 1.94 (0.89) | 2.17 (1.08) | 0.148 |
What are the main disadvantages of WhatsApp? | |||
Consultations outside of work hours | 105 (68.6) | 29 (60.4) | 0.292 |
Increased workload during work hours | 110 (71.9) | 27 (56.3) | .042 |
Failure to document in medical records | 77 (50.3) | 28 (58.3) | 0.333 |
Breaching patient confidentiality | 41 (26.8) | 18 (37.5) | 0.155 |
Invading physician’s personal space | 32 (20.9) | 6 (12.5) | 0.194 |
WhatsApp consultation characteristics | |||
Most consultations are during work hours | 115 (75.2) | 42 (87.5) | 0.071 |
Frequent consultations after 20:00 | 128 (83.7) | 37 (77.1) | 0.300 |
Frequent consultations on weekends / holidays | 121 (79.1) | 32 (66.7) | 0.078 |
Frequent consultations on sick leave / vacations | 136 (88.9) | 45 (93.8) | 0.326 |
Frequent consultations when abroad | 109 (71.2) | 43 (89.6) | .010 |