Utility of WhatsApp in healthcare provision and sharing of medical information with caregivers of children with neurodisabilties: experience from Sudan.

ABSTRACT

The authors used smart phones and its WhatsApp application, as a means of communication among the team members and caregivers for children with neurodisabilities, for patient consultations and medical information sharing as they are faced by an increasing number of patients coming from all over Sudan. The group included 256 mothers (caregivers) of children with neurodisabilities. The caregivers (mostly mothers) were asked to fill in a simple survey to get a feedback regarding the service offered in the WhatsApp group after taking their permission. The main aim of this study is to determine the usefulness of WhatsApp application as a means of communication between neurology team members and caregivers for children with neurodisabilities. Two hundred and forty-two caregivers responded (94.5%). All caregivers think that there is a great benefit from the group in locating the whereabouts of some unattainable/out of stock drugs. Two hundred and forty (99.1%) caregivers think that questions posed in the group are promptly and timely answered; the consultation offered is beneficial and minimises the need to go to hospital or seek a doctor's appointment. In addition, they think that they benefit from the new acquaintance and communication with mothers whose children suffer from similar conditions, which positively impacted their spirits and had a favourable effect psychologically. Using WhatsApp can solve the problems of shortage in neurology service in remote areas in resource limited countries.