Utility of WhatsApp in emergency urological practice: An interrater reliability study

Introduction: The messaging application 'WhatsApp' is used in clinical practice, often for communication between a medical trainee and a consultant. We designed this study to find the interrater reliability of the data transmitted through this application and validating its use in urologic...

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Main Authors: Aditya Prakash Sharma, Saket Singh, Sudheer Kumar Devana, Kapil Chaudhary, Tarun Pareek, Shrawan K Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Urology
Online Access:http://www.indianjurol.com/article.asp?issn=0970-1591;year=2022;volume=38;issue=1;spage=29;epage=33;aulast=Sharma
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author Aditya Prakash Sharma
Saket Singh
Sudheer Kumar Devana
Kapil Chaudhary
Tarun Pareek
Shrawan K Singh
author_facet Aditya Prakash Sharma
Saket Singh
Sudheer Kumar Devana
Kapil Chaudhary
Tarun Pareek
Shrawan K Singh
author_sort Aditya Prakash Sharma
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The messaging application 'WhatsApp' is used in clinical practice, often for communication between a medical trainee and a consultant. We designed this study to find the interrater reliability of the data transmitted through this application and validating its use in urological practice. Materials and Methods: Clinical details and computerized tomographic (CT) images of 30 patients visiting the urology emergency were posted in a closed WhatsApp group involving three consultants (SKD, APS, and KC). The CT images were posted in the WhatsApp group as Whole Image (WI) and Image of Interest (IOI) format and rated on a scale of 1–5. The consultants formulated a provisional diagnosis and initial management strategy. The interrater reliability of these responses was analyzed in the study. Results: Mean WI rating ranged from 3.03 ± 0.61 to 3.73 ± 0.64 (Cronbach alfa [α]-0.494, P = 0.006). Mean IOI rating ranged from 3.4 ± 0.56 to 4.13 ± 0.73 (α-0.824, P < 0.0001). For diagnosis, the proportion of observed agreement (P0) was 83.3% for SKD and APS, 76.6% for SKD and KC, and 73.3% for APS and KC. For management, P0 was 86.6% for APS and KC, 86.6% for SKD and APS, and 80% for SKD and KC. Conclusions: WhatsApp Messenger serves to transmit good quality pictures of CT scan images. A reasonable diagnosis and management strategy can be formulated using this app with fair inter-rater reliability.
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spelling doaj.art-35aa7292b9c5447e9de586c95ea48c5e2022-12-21T19:35:15ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Urology0970-15911998-38242022-01-01381293310.4103/iju.iju_107_21Utility of WhatsApp in emergency urological practice: An interrater reliability studyAditya Prakash SharmaSaket SinghSudheer Kumar DevanaKapil ChaudharyTarun PareekShrawan K SinghIntroduction: The messaging application 'WhatsApp' is used in clinical practice, often for communication between a medical trainee and a consultant. We designed this study to find the interrater reliability of the data transmitted through this application and validating its use in urological practice. Materials and Methods: Clinical details and computerized tomographic (CT) images of 30 patients visiting the urology emergency were posted in a closed WhatsApp group involving three consultants (SKD, APS, and KC). The CT images were posted in the WhatsApp group as Whole Image (WI) and Image of Interest (IOI) format and rated on a scale of 1–5. The consultants formulated a provisional diagnosis and initial management strategy. The interrater reliability of these responses was analyzed in the study. Results: Mean WI rating ranged from 3.03 ± 0.61 to 3.73 ± 0.64 (Cronbach alfa [α]-0.494, P = 0.006). Mean IOI rating ranged from 3.4 ± 0.56 to 4.13 ± 0.73 (α-0.824, P < 0.0001). For diagnosis, the proportion of observed agreement (P0) was 83.3% for SKD and APS, 76.6% for SKD and KC, and 73.3% for APS and KC. For management, P0 was 86.6% for APS and KC, 86.6% for SKD and APS, and 80% for SKD and KC. Conclusions: WhatsApp Messenger serves to transmit good quality pictures of CT scan images. A reasonable diagnosis and management strategy can be formulated using this app with fair inter-rater reliability.http://www.indianjurol.com/article.asp?issn=0970-1591;year=2022;volume=38;issue=1;spage=29;epage=33;aulast=Sharma
spellingShingle Aditya Prakash Sharma
Saket Singh
Sudheer Kumar Devana
Kapil Chaudhary
Tarun Pareek
Shrawan K Singh
Utility of WhatsApp in emergency urological practice: An interrater reliability study
Indian Journal of Urology
title Utility of WhatsApp in emergency urological practice: An interrater reliability study
title_full Utility of WhatsApp in emergency urological practice: An interrater reliability study
title_fullStr Utility of WhatsApp in emergency urological practice: An interrater reliability study
title_full_unstemmed Utility of WhatsApp in emergency urological practice: An interrater reliability study
title_short Utility of WhatsApp in emergency urological practice: An interrater reliability study
title_sort utility of whatsapp in emergency urological practice an interrater reliability study
url http://www.indianjurol.com/article.asp?issn=0970-1591;year=2022;volume=38;issue=1;spage=29;epage=33;aulast=Sharma
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