Integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education: a mixed methods study
Abstract Background Instant messaging applications and texting are useful for educating and communicating with medical students; however, they present patient privacy concerns and do not address the challenge of student inclusion in patient care communication. EMR-integrated secure messaging offers...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03637-8 |
| _version_ | 1818162949778309120 |
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| author | Laura Nichols Dubert Guerrero Devendranath Mannuru Marc D. Basson Abe E. Sahmoun Dinesh Bande |
| author_facet | Laura Nichols Dubert Guerrero Devendranath Mannuru Marc D. Basson Abe E. Sahmoun Dinesh Bande |
| author_sort | Laura Nichols |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Instant messaging applications and texting are useful for educating and communicating with medical students; however, they present patient privacy concerns and do not address the challenge of student inclusion in patient care communication. EMR-integrated secure messaging offers an opportunity to include students on team communication, enhance their medical education, and ensure patient privacy. Methods Between July 2019 through March 2020, we performed a mixed method study to evaluate use of EPIC® Secure Chat as a means of enhancing student education and team communication. We promoted use of secure messaging in orientation, performed a pre- and post-rotation survey to assess perceptions of Secure Chat effect on communication, and directly reviewed and categorized messages. Results Twenty-four 3rd and 4th year students completed the pre-rotation survey, and 22 completed the post-rotation survey. Twelve (50%) students reported the quality of communication with faculty was either good or very good prior to internal medicine rotation, while 20 (91%) reported this post-rotation (p-value 0.001). There was a similar improvement in communication with ancillary staff. Nineteen (86%) students felt that secure messaging improved their communication with faculty. On message review, threads were frequently logistical, but also often included discussions of patient management. Conclusions Students viewed Secure Chat as having a favorable effect on their communication with team members and reported communication on internal medicine to be improved compared to prior rotations. Messages included students on important patient care conversations. Secure messaging offers a novel medium to improve team communication, enhance student education, and maintain patient privacy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:41:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df0a367dc71046ad88728106e9e6a739 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:41:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-df0a367dc71046ad88728106e9e6a7392022-12-22T00:58:18ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202022-07-012211710.1186/s12909-022-03637-8Integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education: a mixed methods studyLaura Nichols0Dubert Guerrero1Devendranath Mannuru2Marc D. Basson3Abe E. Sahmoun4Dinesh Bande5Sanford HealthSanford HealthSanford HealthUniversity of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health SciencesDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health SciencesSanford HealthAbstract Background Instant messaging applications and texting are useful for educating and communicating with medical students; however, they present patient privacy concerns and do not address the challenge of student inclusion in patient care communication. EMR-integrated secure messaging offers an opportunity to include students on team communication, enhance their medical education, and ensure patient privacy. Methods Between July 2019 through March 2020, we performed a mixed method study to evaluate use of EPIC® Secure Chat as a means of enhancing student education and team communication. We promoted use of secure messaging in orientation, performed a pre- and post-rotation survey to assess perceptions of Secure Chat effect on communication, and directly reviewed and categorized messages. Results Twenty-four 3rd and 4th year students completed the pre-rotation survey, and 22 completed the post-rotation survey. Twelve (50%) students reported the quality of communication with faculty was either good or very good prior to internal medicine rotation, while 20 (91%) reported this post-rotation (p-value 0.001). There was a similar improvement in communication with ancillary staff. Nineteen (86%) students felt that secure messaging improved their communication with faculty. On message review, threads were frequently logistical, but also often included discussions of patient management. Conclusions Students viewed Secure Chat as having a favorable effect on their communication with team members and reported communication on internal medicine to be improved compared to prior rotations. Messages included students on important patient care conversations. Secure messaging offers a novel medium to improve team communication, enhance student education, and maintain patient privacy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03637-8Medical educationHealthcare communicationSecure messaging |
| spellingShingle | Laura Nichols Dubert Guerrero Devendranath Mannuru Marc D. Basson Abe E. Sahmoun Dinesh Bande Integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education: a mixed methods study BMC Medical Education Medical education Healthcare communication Secure messaging |
| title | Integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education: a mixed methods study |
| title_full | Integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education: a mixed methods study |
| title_fullStr | Integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education: a mixed methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education: a mixed methods study |
| title_short | Integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education: a mixed methods study |
| title_sort | integrated secure messaging to enhance medical education a mixed methods study |
| topic | Medical education Healthcare communication Secure messaging |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03637-8 |
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