Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Platform for Teledermatology in Botswana: Retrospective Review and Survey
BackgroundIn emerging market countries in sub-Saharan Africa, access to specialty services such as dermatology is limited. Teledermatology is an innovative solution to address this issue; however, many initiatives have been tried without sustained success. Recently, WhatsApp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | JMIR Dermatology |
| Online Access: | https://derma.jmir.org/2022/3/e35254 |
| _version_ | 1827360025012600832 |
|---|---|
| author | Erika Koh Abena Maranga Tshepo Yane Kagiso Ndlovu Bwanali Jereni Maitseo Kuno Nwako-Mohamadi Carrie Kovarik Amy Forrestel Victoria L Williams |
| author_facet | Erika Koh Abena Maranga Tshepo Yane Kagiso Ndlovu Bwanali Jereni Maitseo Kuno Nwako-Mohamadi Carrie Kovarik Amy Forrestel Victoria L Williams |
| author_sort | Erika Koh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundIn emerging market countries in sub-Saharan Africa, access to specialty services such as dermatology is limited. Teledermatology is an innovative solution to address this issue; however, many initiatives have been tried without sustained success. Recently, WhatsApp has been used as a store-and-forward telemedicine communication platform for consultation and education in Botswana.
ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the utilization of WhatsApp for teledermatology and the satisfaction levels of participating providers.
MethodsA 2-part pilot study was conducted. First, a retrospective review was performed of WhatsApp communications received by participating dermatologists in Gaborone, Botswana, from January 2016 to December 2019. Sender information, patient demographics and history, response time, diagnoses made, and follow-up recommendations were collected. Second, a 12-question cross-sectional survey was distributed to health care providers who utilized WhatsApp for teledermatology during this period. Descriptive statistics were then performed.
ResultsThere were 811 communication threads over the study period. The majority (503/811, 62%) of communications were consultations from providers inquiring about a specific patient, followed by multidisciplinary care coordination communications (90/811, 11%). Our in-depth analysis focused on the former. In 323 (64%) provider consultations, dermatologists responded within 1 hour. A diagnosis was made in 274 (55%) consultations. Dermatologists gave treatment recommendations remotely in 281 (56%) consultations and recommended an in-person dermatology visit in 163 (32%). Of the 150 health care providers surveyed, 23 (15%) responded. All respondents (100%) felt that there was a need for teledermatology and improved teledermatology education in Botswana. Moreover, 17 (74%) respondents strongly felt that the guidance received via WhatsApp was high quality, and 22 (96%) were satisfied with WhatsApp as a platform for teledermatology.
ConclusionsThis retrospective review and survey demonstrated that WhatsApp is a quick, well-received, and sustainable method of communication between dermatologists and providers across Botswana. The app may offer a solution to the challenges providers face in accessing specialty referral systems, point-of-care education, and medical decision-making support for complex dermatologic cases in Botswana. The information gained from this pilot study can serve as the basis for future telemedicine studies to improve the implementation of teledermatology in Botswana and other resource-limited countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:40:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f1dfef77aa044a869975c32329ecc1ec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2562-0959 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:40:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Dermatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f1dfef77aa044a869975c32329ecc1ec2024-02-03T09:07:19ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Dermatology2562-09592022-07-0153e3525410.2196/35254Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Platform for Teledermatology in Botswana: Retrospective Review and SurveyErika Kohhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9545-5638Abena Marangahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2256-8612Tshepo Yanehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9324-9873Kagiso Ndlovuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4175-8366Bwanali Jerenihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7082-1240Maitseo Kuno Nwako-Mohamadihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8408-8641Carrie Kovarikhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3258-3605Amy Forrestelhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9839-8675Victoria L Williamshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3842-2693 BackgroundIn emerging market countries in sub-Saharan Africa, access to specialty services such as dermatology is limited. Teledermatology is an innovative solution to address this issue; however, many initiatives have been tried without sustained success. Recently, WhatsApp has been used as a store-and-forward telemedicine communication platform for consultation and education in Botswana. ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the utilization of WhatsApp for teledermatology and the satisfaction levels of participating providers. MethodsA 2-part pilot study was conducted. First, a retrospective review was performed of WhatsApp communications received by participating dermatologists in Gaborone, Botswana, from January 2016 to December 2019. Sender information, patient demographics and history, response time, diagnoses made, and follow-up recommendations were collected. Second, a 12-question cross-sectional survey was distributed to health care providers who utilized WhatsApp for teledermatology during this period. Descriptive statistics were then performed. ResultsThere were 811 communication threads over the study period. The majority (503/811, 62%) of communications were consultations from providers inquiring about a specific patient, followed by multidisciplinary care coordination communications (90/811, 11%). Our in-depth analysis focused on the former. In 323 (64%) provider consultations, dermatologists responded within 1 hour. A diagnosis was made in 274 (55%) consultations. Dermatologists gave treatment recommendations remotely in 281 (56%) consultations and recommended an in-person dermatology visit in 163 (32%). Of the 150 health care providers surveyed, 23 (15%) responded. All respondents (100%) felt that there was a need for teledermatology and improved teledermatology education in Botswana. Moreover, 17 (74%) respondents strongly felt that the guidance received via WhatsApp was high quality, and 22 (96%) were satisfied with WhatsApp as a platform for teledermatology. ConclusionsThis retrospective review and survey demonstrated that WhatsApp is a quick, well-received, and sustainable method of communication between dermatologists and providers across Botswana. The app may offer a solution to the challenges providers face in accessing specialty referral systems, point-of-care education, and medical decision-making support for complex dermatologic cases in Botswana. The information gained from this pilot study can serve as the basis for future telemedicine studies to improve the implementation of teledermatology in Botswana and other resource-limited countries.https://derma.jmir.org/2022/3/e35254 |
| spellingShingle | Erika Koh Abena Maranga Tshepo Yane Kagiso Ndlovu Bwanali Jereni Maitseo Kuno Nwako-Mohamadi Carrie Kovarik Amy Forrestel Victoria L Williams Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Platform for Teledermatology in Botswana: Retrospective Review and Survey JMIR Dermatology |
| title | Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Platform for Teledermatology in Botswana: Retrospective Review and Survey |
| title_full | Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Platform for Teledermatology in Botswana: Retrospective Review and Survey |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Platform for Teledermatology in Botswana: Retrospective Review and Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Platform for Teledermatology in Botswana: Retrospective Review and Survey |
| title_short | Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Platform for Teledermatology in Botswana: Retrospective Review and Survey |
| title_sort | evaluation of whatsapp as a platform for teledermatology in botswana retrospective review and survey |
| url | https://derma.jmir.org/2022/3/e35254 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erikakoh evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey AT abenamaranga evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey AT tshepoyane evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey AT kagisondlovu evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey AT bwanalijereni evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey AT maitseokunonwakomohamadi evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey AT carriekovarik evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey AT amyforrestel evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey AT victorialwilliams evaluationofwhatsappasaplatformforteledermatologyinbotswanaretrospectivereviewandsurvey |