View in EDS

"WhatsApp is best!" Acceptability and feasibility of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers in remote South African clinics: A pragmatic, mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: "WhatsApp is best!" Acceptability and feasibility of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers in remote South African clinics: A pragmatic, mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial.
Authors: Chisholm, Briony Sue1 (AUTHOR) briony.chisholm@uct.ac.za, Wallace, Melissa Laura2 (AUTHOR), Blockman, Marc1 (AUTHOR), Orrell, Catherine2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Nurse Education in Practice. Jul2025, Vol. 86, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subject Terms: *Social media, *AIDS education, *Qualitative research, *Focus groups, *Health occupations students, *Online education, *Research methodology, *Learning strategies, *Remote access networks, Cluster analysis (Statistics), Occupational achievement, Self-efficacy, Pilot projects, Statistical sampling, Randomized controlled trials, Patient care, Judgment sampling, Thematic analysis
Geographic Terms: South Africa
Abstract: To determine the usability of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers. This paper reports acceptability and feasibility. HIV guidelines are regularly updated making ongoing training essential. Distance, infrastructure, human and financial resource constraints are challenges to training in South Africa. Innovative, accessible, scalable and sustainable training is needed. The country has 100 % mobile phone penetration; 93 % WhatsApp use. A pragmatic, mixed-methods, parallel-group cluster-randomised trial, conducted in 50 clinics, with intervention and control groups receiving training at different times. 233 nurses and 206 community health workers participated. Short case-based lessons were held in WhatsApp groups. Uptake, feasibility, accessibility, changes in knowledge and patient care were measured with analysis of online questionnaires, WhatsApp interactions, focus groups and folder reviews. Focus group sampling was purposive and convenience. Twelve focus groups and one interview were held, with 21 nurses and 42 community health workers. Qualitative data were analysed using template analysis. Overall sentiment was positive, with 98 % of participants saying they would participate if the training were held weekly throughout the year. Three themes described sentiment: (1) 'WhatsApp group is best' – training was effective and interesting; easy and enjoyable; live group learning, with trainer access was appreciated; and further training was wanted; (2) Challenges – infrastructural/technology-based; language barriers/jargon; and message fatigue; (3) Recognition, appreciation and empowerment. Participants expressed satisfaction, with 98.6 % of nurses and 95.2 % of CHWs finding the training useful. WhatsApp-based microlearning for healthcare workers is feasible and well-received. Future research should explore application at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Nurse Education in Practice is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 186502847
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: "WhatsApp is best!" Acceptability and feasibility of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers in remote South African clinics: A pragmatic, mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chisholm%2C+Briony+Sue%22">Chisholm, Briony Sue</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> briony.chisholm@uct.ac.za</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wallace%2C+Melissa+Laura%22">Wallace, Melissa Laura</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Blockman%2C+Marc%22">Blockman, Marc</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Orrell%2C+Catherine%22">Orrell, Catherine</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nurse+Education+in+Practice%22">Nurse Education in Practice</searchLink>. Jul2025, Vol. 86, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+media%22">Social media</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22AIDS+education%22">AIDS education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Focus+groups%22">Focus groups</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+occupations+students%22">Health occupations students</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Online+education%22">Online education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+strategies%22">Learning strategies</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Remote+access+networks%22">Remote access networks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cluster+analysis+%28Statistics%29%22">Cluster analysis (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupational+achievement%22">Occupational achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-efficacy%22">Self-efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pilot+projects%22">Pilot projects</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+sampling%22">Statistical sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Randomized+controlled+trials%22">Randomized controlled trials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+care%22">Patient care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+sampling%22">Judgment sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Africa%22">South Africa</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: To determine the usability of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers. This paper reports acceptability and feasibility. HIV guidelines are regularly updated making ongoing training essential. Distance, infrastructure, human and financial resource constraints are challenges to training in South Africa. Innovative, accessible, scalable and sustainable training is needed. The country has 100 % mobile phone penetration; 93 % WhatsApp use. A pragmatic, mixed-methods, parallel-group cluster-randomised trial, conducted in 50 clinics, with intervention and control groups receiving training at different times. 233 nurses and 206 community health workers participated. Short case-based lessons were held in WhatsApp groups. Uptake, feasibility, accessibility, changes in knowledge and patient care were measured with analysis of online questionnaires, WhatsApp interactions, focus groups and folder reviews. Focus group sampling was purposive and convenience. Twelve focus groups and one interview were held, with 21 nurses and 42 community health workers. Qualitative data were analysed using template analysis. Overall sentiment was positive, with 98 % of participants saying they would participate if the training were held weekly throughout the year. Three themes described sentiment: (1) 'WhatsApp group is best' – training was effective and interesting; easy and enjoyable; live group learning, with trainer access was appreciated; and further training was wanted; (2) Challenges – infrastructural/technology-based; language barriers/jargon; and message fatigue; (3) Recognition, appreciation and empowerment. Participants expressed satisfaction, with 98.6 % of nurses and 95.2 % of CHWs finding the training useful. WhatsApp-based microlearning for healthcare workers is feasible and well-received. Future research should explore application at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Nurse Education in Practice is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=186502847
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104407
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Social media
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: AIDS education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Focus groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health occupations students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Online education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Learning strategies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Remote access networks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cluster analysis (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Occupational achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-efficacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pilot projects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Randomized controlled trials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: South Africa
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: "WhatsApp is best!" Acceptability and feasibility of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers in remote South African clinics: A pragmatic, mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chisholm, Briony Sue
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wallace, Melissa Laura
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Blockman, Marc
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Orrell, Catherine
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 14715953
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 86
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Nurse Education in Practice
              Type: main
ResultId 1