How can WhatsApp® facilitate the future of medical education and clinical practice?

Abstract As part of the modern generation of medical students and prospective future doctors of the United Kingdom’s Nation Health Service (NHS), we have grown up in an age where smartphones and instant messaging applications (IMAs) are ubiquitous across all aspects of society. With IMAs being so fa...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Muhammed Aizaz us Salam, George Chukwuemeka Oyekwe, Sami Ahmad Ghani, Regwaan Imtiaz Choudhury
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-01-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02440-7
Description
Summary:Abstract As part of the modern generation of medical students and prospective future doctors of the United Kingdom’s Nation Health Service (NHS), we have grown up in an age where smartphones and instant messaging applications (IMAs) are ubiquitous across all aspects of society. With IMAs being so familiar, we recognise their scope for facilitating our learning of the pre-registration syllabus and how their practical nature could potentially revolutionise healthcare worldwide. It is, therefore, rational to further investigate the benefits of incorporating such technology into these respective settings. In this article, we will further expand on some of the advantages highlighted by E. Colman & E. O’Connor that IMAs, particularly WhatsApp, have in the academic environment which resonate with us. We illustrate our views on IMAs being incorporated into health systems globally through exemplifying the NHS, using reviewed literature.
ISSN:1472-6920