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Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic period Health Care Practitioners (HCPs) were seen to facilitate healthcare delivery by using their mobile phones also known as "informal mHealth", especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). WhatsApp has become popular in recent years with over 380 million users. It has therefore been identified that the effective use of WhatsApp by HCP for health could positively impact it. This study aims to assess the potential effect of the use of WhatsApp by HCPs on Maternal Health Services (MHS) uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic in four primary healthcare facilities in the Kwadaso Municipality of Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted using a quantitative approach involving a census sampling technique to collect data on monthly Maternal Health Services (MHS) attendance from the District Health Information Management Systems (DHIMS 2). Data collection was for the period March 2019 to February 2020 and March 2020 to February 2021. Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of WhatsApp as a mHealth intervention helped improve maternal health case management and patient confidence. This led to a 5.64% (p=0.02) increase in ANC attendance and a 5.62% (p=0.02) rise in health facility deliveries. However, although PNC service attendance dropped slightly (7.06%, p=0.95), it was not statistically significant. Overall, key maternal health indicators showed significant improvements from 2019 to 2021 COVID-19 period. Conclusion: WhatsApp usage by HCPs for a positive and timely patient management showed an increased attendance for ANC and delivery services in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. This reveals that the use of WhatsApp for maternal health services referrals can be used as a communication tool for the management of high-risk obstetric referrals also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of disinformation has been a topic of heightened concern, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the response to a public health crisis relies on the ability for public officials to inform citizens. Using a representative two-wave panel of internet users in Brazil, we examine the relationship between pathways to information, WhatsApp use, and the persistence of misinformed beliefs about the pandemic. We find a strong relationship between presidential support, right-wing news sources, and participating in WhatsApp groups with strangers, and becoming more misinformed over time. Conversely, most media diets (traditional news media, social media and WhatsApp for news) had no effect. However, Bolsonaro supporters, using WhatsApp and Facebook for news was strongly associated with increasing and persistent misinformation. Our findings provide further evidence that political leaders undermine a country's ability to respond to a pandemic insofar as they breed mistrust in other institutions by instrumentalizing public health measures to win political fights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of the mobile Internet, online groups, which often serve as a primary form of communication and socialization and provide support within personal networks, have become an important cyberspace for adolescents. While the prevalence of being kicked out from online groups is relatively high, the influence of such online exclusion and its underlying mechanisms have been less studied. This study examined the relationship between being kicked out (BKO) from WhatsApp groups and students' school achievement was explored. Valid participants were 858 students (M age = 14.01 years, SD age = 2.23) from middle schools and high schools. A negative relationship was found between BKO and students' grade point average. Fear of missing out, problematic social media use, and internalizing symptoms played mediating roles in this association. This study may provide valuable insights for programs aimed at improving students' academic performance and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn some countries, there is substantive use of WhatsApp in government as social media platforms make inroads into official organizational communication. The use of WhatsApp through audio, text, and video results in the creation of business records. Nonetheless, due to the wrong perception of WhatsApp as unofficial media, and the absence of the right information and communication technologies, WhatsApp records are often not managed or are poorly managed. The case study of government ministries in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe shows the inevitability of adopting intelligent enterprise content management systems to ensure that WhatsApp records are properly captured and managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational: Online Diabetes Self‐Management Education and Support (DSMES) offers people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accessible and tailored education, utilising innovative and interactive tools such as social media to enhance engagement and outcomes. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of social media‐based DSMES in improving health outcomes, there remains a significant gap in qualitative insights regarding participants' experiences. Aim: This study aims to explore the experiences of people with T2DM who are using a newly developed WhatsApp‐based DSMES. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted. Data consisted of 23 semi‐structured phone interviews with people with T2DM who had received the WhatsApp‐based DSMES. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The present study adheres to the COREQ guidelines. Results: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) acceptability of the programme, (2) flexible accessibility of the programme, (3) promoting healthy lifestyle and (4) future preferences for the programme use. Conclusion: This study explored the experiences of people with T2DM participating in a 6‐week WhatsApp‐based DSMES. The findings indicated that the programme was acceptable, accessible, effectively revealing necessary self‐management knowledge and skills, and provided essential support from professional and peer. The study also indicated that WhatsApp‐based programmes could be feasibly implemented in various populations, healthcare settings and communities to support people with T2DM globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing / Kardiyovasküler Hemşirelik Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. 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.)

This study investigates the impact and implications of implementing cybersecurity identity verification on the popular instant messaging platform, WhatsApp. Specifically, it focuses on the effects of such a measure on resilient infrastructure, user perceptions of the platform's branding and trustworthiness, and the cost-effectiveness of this approach in preventing scams, phishing, fraud, and cybercrime. Empirical data collected from a diverse group of WhatsApp users highlight that the introduction of identity verification could potentially enhance transaction efficiency, foster trust, and boost user satisfaction, particularly regarding the platform's security. However, the cost and complexity of implementation pose significant challenges. Despite these hurdles, most users perceive the potential benefits to outweigh the associated costs, pointing to a broad acceptance of such security measures. The study provides practical and theoretical contributions, offering valuable insights for managers and decision-makers at WhatsApp, as well as contributing to academic discussions on digital platform management and security. The research also underscores the societal implications of such a measure, suggesting an increase in trust in digital communication platforms and supporting safer financial transactions on social media. The integration of identity verification on WhatsApp being a responsive institution emerges as a valuable but complex endeavor, demanding careful planning to ensure maximum value creation for all stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic forced universities into emergency remote learning. For universities situated in a country where internet connectivity prices are high, network coverage is low, and most students live in rural areas, this presented a unique set of problems. One of the issues is that traditional orientations were face-to-face for first-time entering students (FTENs) at universities, and they had to be moved online due to lockdown restrictions and the desire to save the academic year. For the university concerned, this presented challenges in accessing students due to their low digital literacy skills and infrastructure limitations. The study employed a quantitative exploratory research approach to assess whether WhatsApp, a low-cost communication tool offering features like affordable data bundles, group creation, and accessibility, could facilitate student engagement and support during the COVID-19 lockdown at a rural university campus. The aim was to investigate if utilizing WhatsApp could foster a sense of belonging among students, potentially mitigating dropout rates and preventing students from falling behind. The hypothesis posited a positive correlation between using WhatsApp for academic support and student retention, ultimately leading to enhanced success rates. The study used the 'Academic Dropout Wheel, a theoretical framework developed by Naaman (2021), which identifies key factors contributing to academic dropout and provides strategies for intervention. The results of a quantitative questionnaire on 181 of the 2022 cohort of FTENS at the campus revealed that students felt more at ease, had a feeling of belonging and ownership of the university, and knew where to ask for help through the effective use of WhatsApp. This paper concludes that if professionally managed, WhatsApp can be an effective tool to facilitate continued adjustment and integration of FTENs into the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to demonstrate the effect of a transtheoretical model (TTM)-based physical activity program on the exercise behavior of adolescents using WhatsApp. The study was conducted with high school students (N = 185) in a pre-/posttest, quasi-experimental design. TTM-based text messages were sent to the intervention group (n = 95) over WhatsApp every day for 8 weeks. The intervention group demonstrated more statistically significant progression in the exercising stages of change compared to the control group (n = 90) (χ2 = 20.10; p =.00). It was also found that this group had a higher exercising self-efficacy score (t = 2.647; p =.009) and a higher physical activity total metabolic equivalent of task score (Z = −3.521; p =.000). There was no significant difference in BMI and perception of pros and cons (p >.05). The program was found to be effective in terms of recording progress in the exercising stages of change, increasing exercising self-efficacy, and maintaining a physical activity program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article concerns the analysis and strengthening of children's emotional self-regulation as a key process in the sustainable and comprehensive educational development of students from 6 to 8 years of age. The objective of the present study was to design a didactic proposal for technological mediation (WhatsApp) that contributes to emotional self-regulation and underpins the sustainable education of children in the context of the prevalence of COVID-19. The research design involved documentation, field, and propositional work. Regarding the documentation design, the content analysis technique of the Institutional Educational Project and the Coexistence Project of an official educational institution located in Bogotá, Colombia, were used. Regarding the field design, the survey technique was applied through a structured questionnaire for populations made up of second grade primary school students, parents, and teachers of the institution. Among the main results, it stands out that the prevalence of COVID-19 and its post-pandemic implications have generated greater use of available technologies, such as the WhatsApp application, evidencing a positive relationship between the level of emotional self-regulation of children and its use as a didactic mediation agent. These findings serve as input for the design of the interactive TICSR-WA proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pervasiveness of various social media platforms and its use among young people have strengthened collaborative learning across different contexts. With this study I explored the integration of WhatsApp by business studies teachers to promote collaboration among learners. This qualitative study is located within an interpretive paradigm and framed on social constructivism theory. Six business studies teachers were purposively selected from 6 secondary schools located in Mkhanyakude district in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. I found that WhatsApp is important in promoting collaborative learning among learners and that integrating WhatsApp in business studies instructional practices facilitates networking among learners. However, it appeared that collaboration among learners was mainly restricted to online and afterschool hours. I therefore recommend that business studies teachers ensure that the same level of collaboration among learners on WhatsApp also occurs in business studies classrooms. This may be achieved by incorporating educational material used during WhatsApp-based instruction in their lessons for learners to see the value of virtual and physical collaborating with their peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the ways in which WhatsApp mediates and inserts itself as a boundary object in the production of borders in the public organization Approve (fictional name). This research criticizes the predominant studies on boundary objects that fail to highlight the networks of relations that produce uses, the characteristics of objects, and boundaries as part of the boundary mediation process. We contribute to filling this gap by way of a qualitative study on WhatsApp using semi-structured interviews, observations, netnography, and data spiral analysis. Results evince WhatsApp as a boundary object that is inserted in productions with negative implications for people based on boundary mediation and produced in networks of relations that can use the application to produce and mediate boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the use of WhatsApp Group for participatory monitoring in a System of Rice Intensification – Farmer Field School (SRI-FFS) program involving the rice farming community in the rural Bidayuh village of Tebaro in Sarawak, Malaysia. Descriptive analysis was performed on a 182-day WhatsApp Group chat taking place from 17 September 2019 to 16 March 2020. The data were analyzed using two online softwares to generate data visualizations. The study revealed that the strengths of participatory monitoring using WhatsApp Group were found in the principles of flexibility and methodologically eclectic. For flexibility, four factors indicated were technical sharing, personal sharing, comments on current events, and the addition of new members. The methodologically eclectic elements were identified as messages in the forms of texts, media, emoji and links. Limitations for participatory monitoring were in the elements of participation and negotiation due to the role-based group structure. To effectively promote the use of digital platforms, agricultural policies must promote inclusiveness and prioritize equitable access to ICT devices and facilities. Current findings show that social media can enhance active multi-stakeholder participation but should be complemented with non-ICT means of communication for rural farming communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Gambia, female fertility societies known as kanyeleng are made up of women who have experienced infertility or the death of a young child. They employ musical performance and fertility ritual practices to support members and promote the health of women and babies. This paper examines the changing forms of creativity and connection practiced by kanyeleng performers through engagement with social media in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation conducted in person and online (2021–2022), we show that while WhatsApp provided an opportunity for kanyeleng to build new social connections and experiment with new forms of musical creativity, it also presented challenges, including inequities in access, and increased misinformation and mistrust of health workers. Going beyond formulations of domestication of technology within private home spaces, we theorise kanyeleng domestication as a process of incorporating social media into their existing ritual practice of claiming public space and power. Finally, we argue that understanding changing forms of communication and connectedness in the Global South demands new methodological approaches to engage participants whose voices are often marginalised in research on social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Gestão & Tecnologia is the property of Revista Gestao & Tecnologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. 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.)

Generally, social media platforms have been utilised to convey personal and non-academic information. Lecturers at higher education institutions have treated social media as a non-formal means of communication. However, with the advent of COVID-19-induced lockdowns, social media platforms gained importance in conveying both formal and non-formal information. This study thus analysed the effects of utilising the whatsapp platform for teaching and learning at one Midlands Teacher Education institution. Through the connectivism lens, the study adopted a qualitative case study generating data through interviews, observations and focus group discussions. Findings pointed to the fact that though sceptical about social media platforms in general, lecturers and students utilise whatsapp to a greater extent for online teaching and learning and for conveying important information. Most students own smartphones and Whatsapp, and though prone to cyberbullying and circulation of falsehoods, the platform was preferred to other platforms as it was categorised under cheaper modes of conveying information to many people at once. The study recommends that while integrating social media applications in teaching and learning, lecturers and students should verify the authenticity of social media information. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the use of blended learning and the possibility of utilising social media in educational contexts.

The internet is expected to help educators keep up with the times when providing materials and increase students' motivation to learn especially mathematics subjects. Students' motivation and mathematical abilities are developmental, interdependent, and influenced by educational experiences' design. The most widely used internet development is WhatsApp social media. With social media, teachers can form a network of collaborative learning groups online that can save many people's time and energy. This study aims to find out the impact of WhatsApp social media on students' motivation and mathematical ability. The method of this research is a systematic literature review using the PRISMA approach. The result of this study is that the use of WhatsApp has become an interaction and meeting point between teachers and students, which has become limitless, so it can be easier to create a positive relationship. Students can have a greater role in decision-making, collaboration, and engagement in offline and online learning because these relationships can help build active learning

Abstract Background In the digital era, virtual education has become one of the most effective educational methods, in which, the latest educational materials can be made available to people using social network platforms. Health ambassadors are mediators for transferring health-related knowledge to the public, so, they must be aware of various health topics, such as home care for minor illnesses. This study aimed to determine the effects of social media-based interventions (using WhatsApp) on the knowledge of health ambassadors concerning home care for minor illnesses. Methods This research was an interventional study carried out in 2021 among health ambassadors in the urban and rural areas of Fasa, a city in the southeast of Fars province. In this study, 121 health ambassadors were divided into control and intervention groups. The educational content is designed based on the Encyclopedia of Self-care Guide in Minor Illnesses and was presented in text, image, and video formats via WhatsApp Messenger to the intervention group on a two-day interval for two weeks. The knowledge level was assessed using a valid and reliable questionnaire developed by researchers. Results After education through WhatsApp, the level of knowledge significantly improved in the intervention group from 30.34 ± 5.58 to 44.80 ± 8.49 (P

This qualitative study investigates two questions: (1) factors that lead to the tendency of students to use WhatsApp Groups compared to LMS E-Learning at UIN K.H Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan? (2) What features do students like on WhatsApp Groups in online learning. This research involved 100 students of the English Department UIN K.H Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan? The research findings reveal that (1) Students choose to use WhatsApp (WA) over the Learning Management System (LMS), because WA provides more convenience in terms of ease of access, interaction and communication, ease of navigation, learning experience and motivation, and better understanding of the material. (2) The features in WA that are liked by students are the auto-login feature, text and audio messages that facilitate interaction with friends or lecturers, where this feature cannot be found in the LMS and that WA is easier to use. In the eyes of students, the data security factor is still of less concern than the convenience and speed, which indicating the lack of awareness towards digital security.

The community service aims to increase the literacy and skills of Posyandu cadres in preventing stunting of toddlers as an effort to support the success of the 2030 SDGs in Banyumas Regency. The method of implementing this service used assistance and practice carried out on mothers who had stunted toddlers in Lokus Stunting Village, Banyumas Regency. Detailed activities included preparation, pre-test, providing education, training on the WhatsApp Telemedicine Stunting application and post-test. The evaluation instrument for this activity used a questionnaire and was explained descriptively. The results of this service showed that above average participants experienced an increase in Stunting Telemedicine Knowledge before and after the training by 87%, indicating that participants' Stunting Telemedicine Knowledge increased compared to before the training. The Toddler Stunting Knowledge aspect before and after mentoring also experienced an increase of 4%, then there was the Toddler Nutrition Knowledge aspect with an increase of 7%. The implications that can be taken from this service were increasing the literacy of Posyandu cadres, improving knowledge of toddlers with stunting, increasing knowledge of toddler nutrition, as well as contributing to SDGs 2030.

The integration of WhatsApp (WhatsApp Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) into the health-care sector is transforming the dynamics of medical communication. Launched in 2009 and incorporated into the Facebook suite of companies in 2014, WhatsApp has become a pivotal platform for health-care professionals. It allows for quick, personal, and group messaging, which is increasingly used to exchange patient information, discuss cases, and make timely decisions. The app’s end-to-end encryption is critical for maintaining patient confidentiality, ensuring that sensitive data are only accessible to the intended recipients. This security feature and the group sharing format enable health-care teams to communicate confidentially and efficiently, bolstering the oversight capabilities of attending senior consultants or physicians over their junior peers. The real-time exchange of information is crucial in providing continuous supervision and facilitating immediate feedback, which is indispensable in clinical training and patient care. However, the widespread adoption of WhatsApp also comes with challenges and potential drawbacks, which have been the focus of past research. These studies assessed the impact of WhatsApp on health-care delivery, considering both the enhancement of communication it offers and the issues it may present, such as data security beyond encryption and the blurring of professional and personal boundaries. In this “medical opinion” from an academic tertiary care center in Muscat, we explored how emergency medicine physicians can effectively use WhatsApp to expedite or bypass referral processes for emergency cases, particularly those involving vascular and other surgical emergencies.

Teknologi digital menjadi sumber daya penting untuk penyampaian layanan kesehatan. Mobile Health yang efektif digunakan pada pelayanan kesehatan, tetapi belum banyak diteliti adalah edukasi melalui penggunaan media WhatsApp (WA). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas edukasi penggunaan obat menggunakan media sosial WA dalam meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kepatuhan pasien Diabetes Melitus Tipe 2. Desain yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini menggunakan desain penelitian quasi experimental, pretest-posttest design with control group dan pengambilan sampel menggunakan cara convenience sampling. Kelompok perlakuan akan mendapatkan edukasi penggunaan obat antidiabetik oleh apoteker melalui pesan teks dan leaflet melalui aplikasi WA setiap minggu selama 1 bulan. Pengukuran tingkat pengetahuan menggunakan kuisioner Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire-24 (DKQ24) dan pengukuran kepatuhan menggunakan kuisioner Medication Adherence Report Scale-5 (MARS-5). Data karakteristik pasien dianalisis secara deskriptif. Data tingkat pengetahuan dan kepatuhan sebelum dan sesudah intervensi dianalisis dengan menggunakan uji Wilcoxon dan uji Mann-Whitney untuk mengetahui perbedaan antara kedua kelompok. Karakteristik pasien DM tipe 2 di Puskesmas Mlati II mayoritas berusia >45 tahun, jenis kelamin perempuan, memiliki tingkat pendidikan SMA, dan memiliki penyakit penyerta hipertensi. Pemberian edukasi pesan teks dan leaflet melalui WA dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan responden pada kelompok intervensi secara signifikan dengan nilai ∆4,71 (p=0,000) dibandingkan dengan kelompok kontrol dengan nilai ∆2,59 (p=0,073). Tingkat kepatuhan pada kelompok intervensi mengalami peningkatan secara signifikan dengan nilai ∆7,74 (p=0,000) dibandingkan dengan kelompok kontrol dengan nilai ∆6,65 (p=0,069). Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara edukasi yang dilakukan oleh apoteker melalui media WA terhadap tingkat pengetahuan dan kepatuhan pada pasien DM tipe 2 (p

Abstract Background and aim Continuing Medical Education (CME) is crucial for physicians to stay current in the rapidly advancing field of medicine. A WhatsApp (WA) based community of physicians was initiated in 2016 ‘WhatsApp CME India Group’ to facilitate learning, knowledge sharing, and discussion among physicians. Due to participant size constraints of the technology, it evolved into seven distinct WA groups, overseen by a central administrator. A survey undertaken in the group’s 7th year aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving its goals, measure participant engagement, and uncover the primary factors driving its usage. Methods The survey questionnaire was distributed to 3500 members across the 07 WhatsApp CME groups for voluntary participation. Data collected was analysed using SPSS version 24.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and reported using descriptive statistics. Results Among the 581 survey respondents, the study found 43% of physicians use the WhatsApp academic groups for CME content, with 32% accessing their group over four times daily. The primary motivation for 77% was to discuss challenging cases and to gain knowledge updates from fellow physician (70%). Medical websites (57%), referral books (49%), and Google (43%) were other significant resources. Every participant (100%) found the WhatsApp CME India group the most beneficial resource for daily medical science updates. A significant portion (57%) of the respondents found the group valuable for real-time information exchange. Over 78% stated it kept them current with knowledge and guidelines. Notably, 94% viewed WhatsApp CME as complementary to physical conferences, not a replacement. The post-conference/webinar summaries were appreciated by 81% participants. Case discussions (31%) and update posts from fellow physicians sharing their insights and learnings (24%) were noted as activities of great academic interest. Conclusion This study underscores the potential of digital platforms like WhatsApp in supplementing CME in India and potentially other comparable settings. The blend of digital and traditional resources suggests a balanced learning approach. While real-time engagement is a strength, challenges like information overload and privacy concerns require careful management. Striking a balance is crucial for ensuring content quality, structured discussions and privacy. As the digital age advances, professionals must critically assess shared information on these platforms to guarantee evidence-based and reliable knowledge dissemination. Trial registration ARK 001.

Abstract Background Individuals with high blood pressure in India often miss essential follow-up visits. Missed visits contribute to gaps across the hypertension care continuum and preventable cardiovascular disease. Widespread misconceptions around hypertension care and treatment may contribute to low follow-up attendance rates, but to date, there is limited evidence of the effect of interventions to debunk such misconceptions on health-seeking behavior. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to measure whether combining information debunking commonly-held misconceptions with a standard reminder reduces missed follow-up visits among individuals with high blood pressure and investigated whether any observed effect was moderated through belief change. Methods We recruited 388 patients with uncontrolled blood pressure from the outpatient wards of two public sub-district hospitals in Punjab, India. Participants randomly assigned to the intervention arm received two WhatsApp messages, sent 3 and 1 days before their physician-requested follow-up visit. The WhatsApp message began with a standard reminder, reminding participants of their upcoming follow-up visit and its purpose. Following the standard reminder, we included brief debunking statements aimed at acknowledging and correcting common misconceptions and misbeliefs about hypertension care seeking and treatment. Participants in the control group received usual care and did not receive any messages. Results We did not find evidence that the enhanced WhatsApp reminders improved follow-up visit attendance (Main effect: 2.2 percentage points, p-value = 0.603), which remained low across both treatment (21.8%, 95% CI: 15.7%, 27.9%) and control groups (19.6%, 95% CI: 14.2%, 25.0%). Participants had widespread misconceptions about hypertension care but our debunking messages did not successfully correct these beliefs (p-value = 0.187). Conclusions This study re-affirms the challenge of continuity of care for chronic diseases in India and suggests that simple phone-based health communication methods may not suffice for changing prevalent misconceptions and improving health-seeking behavior. Trial registration The trial began on July 18th. We registered the trial on July 18th (before recruitment began), including the main outcomes, on the German Clinical Trial Register [Identifier: DRKS00029712] and published a pre-analysis plan in the Open Science Framework [osf.io/67g35].

Abstract Background Social media in our networks have been exploited as dynamic learning tools and free platforms. Aims The main objective of this study is to determine the impact of VARK learning styles (visual (V), aural (A), read/write (R), and kinesthetic (K)) in enhancing parasitological laboratory skills using social media and various learning theories. Methods A research sample of 100 chemists working in Mega Alfa labs underwent online learning of laboratory parasitology skills via Facebook posts and WhatsApp dictated messages for an average of 7 weeks. All posts served various VARK learning styles and were designed based on Zeigarnik’s effect (conducting information with tactical breaks), memory storage and retrieval strength theories (repetition of information). Trainees were classified according to their VARK learning style preferences and were evaluated through pre/post-tests. Data on VARK learning styles were summarized using frequency (count) and relative frequency (percentage). Data of pre-test and post-test scores were summarized using mean and standard deviation. T-test was used to compare pre-test and post-test scores. The difference between the pre-test results, the post-test results and the preferred learning style was analyzed using ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc testing. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results In a total of 100 trainees, tri-modal and multimodal learning styles were preferred by 40% and 30% of the trainees respectively; on the contrary, the unimodal and bimodal learning styles were the least preferred. In the trimodal and multimodal groups, the post-test results showed significant increase when compared with the pre-test results. Also, using the ANOVA test and a Tukey’s post-hoc comparison, the assemblage of multiple learning styles (tri-modal and multimodal) appeared to significantly improve the learning performance in the post-test results when compared with the unimodal and bimodal groups. Conclusion The tri-modal and multimodal learning styles were found to influence the acquirement of the laboratory parasitology skills much better than the unimodal and bimodal learning styles. Kinesthetic learning should have a special emphasis in training.

Nowadays, business studies teachers integrate WhatsApp into their lessons to enhance their instructional practice. This qualitative study investigates the role of WhatsApp in supporting flipped learning in business studies classrooms. The interpretive paradigm was adopted, and an exploratory case study was employed as the research design. Social constructivism theory was used as the lens through which to view the study, while purposive sampling was utilised to select six business studies teachers from six secondary schools in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that WhatsApp played a significant role in supporting flipped learning in business studies. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that WhatsApp is integral to supporting flipped learning in resource-constrained schools. Thus, it is recommended that South African schools allow and formalise the use of WhatsApp as a learning tool to transform pedagogies.

This paper reports findings from a research and development project to support fathers’ involvement with their children’s literacy development. Eighty Emirati fathers attended workshops about sharing reading with their young children, where they were provided with a variety of children’s picture books in both Arabic and English, and reported their experiences of sharing reading in their homes with their young children. In the context of a rapidly evolving United Arab Emirates, the role of fathers is changing within this multilingual society to encompass enhanced engagement with their young children. Emirati fathers reported their experiences via WhatsApp voice-notes and text messages, which offered a naturalistic and culturally appropriate way for them to share their everyday shared reading activities. The overarching takeaway from these responses indicates a sense of their joy at engaging with their children in such volitional shared reading experiences. This leads to a feeling of wellbeing for themselves and their children, as well as a way of being more engaged in child-rearing in this nation which is moving towards more shared spousal responsibilities and more of an emphasis on the importance of connecting with their young children, for not only their children’s benefit but also their own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria face a high burden of mental health disorders, with limited access to evidence-based, culturally relevant interventions. Life skills education (LSE) is a promising approach to promote mental health and psychosocial well-being in humanitarian settings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a culturally adapted LSE program delivered through in-person and mobile platforms among IDPs in Northern Nigeria. Methods: This cluster-randomized hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial will be conducted in 20 IDP camps or host communities in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Sites will be randomly assigned to receive a 12-week LSE program delivered either through in-person peer support groups or WhatsApp-facilitated mobile groups. The study will recruit 500 participants aged 13 years and older. Intervention effectiveness outcomes include the primary outcome of change in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms assessed using the PCL-5 scale, and secondary outcomes of depression, anxiety, well-being, and life skills acquisition. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). Both sets of outcomes will be compared between the in-person and mobile delivery groups. Quantitative data will be analyzed using mixed-effects linear regression models, while qualitative data will be examined through reflexive thematic analysis. The study will be guided by the Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Discussion: The RESETTLE-IDPs study addresses key gaps in the evidence base on mental health interventions for conflict-affected populations. It focuses on underserved IDP populations, evaluates the comparative effectiveness of in-person and mobile-delivered LSE, and incorporates implementation science frameworks to assess contextual factors influencing adoption, fidelity, and sustainability. The study employs a community-based participatory approach to enhance cultural relevance, acceptability, and ownership. Findings will inform the development and scale-up of evidence-based, sustainable mental health interventions for IDPs in Nigeria and other humanitarian contexts. Trial sponsor: Dalhousie University, 6299 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06412679 Registered 15 May 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the increasing use of social media by people seeking to reconstruct family histories and preserve historical, cultural, and societal legacy, genealogy-based online communities are experiencing a surge in popularity. This study explores how trauma-affected communities use online communities to reconstruct their identities and histories, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of these groups in the digital age. Based on the theory of Knowledge Co-Creation, this paper presents a novel conceptual framework designed to categorize the content in such communities. This framework is composed of two axes. The first axis, 'Time,' reflects the evolving character of participants' involvement, starting with an exploration of immediate family history and gradually expanding to encompass a broader interest in ancestral and communal history of the past. The second axis, 'Space,' explores the interplay between online interactions and offline activities. To demonstrate the applicability of this framework, the paper focuses on the case study of the WhatsApp community dedicated to collaborative research of the descendants of annihilated Jewish communities of the Upper Silesia region of southwestern Poland.This research contributes to the literature on digital genealogy and online communities by offering a structured approach to analyzing the dynamics of trauma-affected populations engaging in collaborative genealogical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the use of social messaging systems and on volunteering has indicated divergent experiences of each. We bring together research in these two domains using an examination of experiences of WhatsApp use by volunteers for a specific charity. Our qualitative analysis illustrates benefits and challenges of using WhatsApp in this specific context. While WhatsApp was perceived as facilitating information exchange in support of volunteering activity, it was also seen as a compromise. Moreover, the perceived noisy intrusion of WhatsApp alerts and lack of a clear, shared purpose of the group was experienced negatively. Our findings are used to discuss some of the potential practical implications for volunteer experiences and additionally contribute to the development of our understanding of the volunteering process via the introduction of the concept of digital volunteerspaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Bayburt Education Faculty / Bayburt Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Bayburt University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. 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.)

The current study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of using WhatsApp groups to improve university students’ vocabulary learning. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design. It consisted of 60 male and female EFL students from Ajloun College University at Al-Balqa Applied University. The participants were assigned evenly into a control group, which was taught via conventional teaching methods, and an experimental group, which was taught via a researcher-administrated WhatsApp group. The teaching material included the first three units of the curriculum specified for the English Language 1 course at Ajloun University College. The study used vocabulary pre- and post-tests. The findings of the study revealed that the experimental group members performed better than the control group in the vocabulary post-test results. The findings demonstrated the effectiveness of using the WhatsApp group method to improve vocabulary learning among undergraduate EFL students at Ajloun University College. The study concluded that using group instant messaging mobile applications significantly improves the vocabulary teaching and learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CIRCULO de Linguistica Aplicada a la Comunicacion is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. 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.)

Copyright of CIRCULO de Linguistica Aplicada a la Comunicacion is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. 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.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. 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.)

Treatment of HIV in South Africa is informed by national guidelines, which are regularly updated. Ongoing training of healthcare workers is vital for optimal patient care, but is challenging, due to human, financial and infrastructural constraints. There is a need for innovative solutions to meet training and support needs. With 93.2% of South African adults using WhatsApp, it is an ideal platform for training, even in the most remote clinics. The primary aim of the study is to design, test and evaluate the effect of WhatsApp group-based HIV training on nurses' and community health workers' knowledge. The secondary aims are to assess uptake, acceptability, and feasibility of the intervention; and to explore and describe the changes in prescribing, comparing the intervention group to the control group. A pragmatic, mixed-methods, parallel-group cluster-randomised study design will be used. This paper details the design – and rationale behind it – of the study. A critical realist stance was chosen, with outcomes measured using questionnaires, pre- and post-intervention; WhatsApp group interaction; focus groups; and folder reviews. Inferential analysis will be conducted using Stata, descriptive analysis using Excel™ and qualitative data using template analysis with NVivo™. Rigor of the study will be ensured using relevant points from the CASP and COREQ checklists, considering the study's theoretical underpinning, design and aims. Reporting will be guided by the CONSORT and SRQR guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social media in our networks have been exploited as dynamic learning tools and free platforms. Aims: The main objective of this study is to determine the impact of VARK learning styles (visual (V), aural (A), read/write (R), and kinesthetic (K)) in enhancing parasitological laboratory skills using social media and various learning theories. Methods: A research sample of 100 chemists working in Mega Alfa labs underwent online learning of laboratory parasitology skills via Facebook posts and WhatsApp dictated messages for an average of 7 weeks. All posts served various VARK learning styles and were designed based on Zeigarnik's effect (conducting information with tactical breaks), memory storage and retrieval strength theories (repetition of information). Trainees were classified according to their VARK learning style preferences and were evaluated through pre/post-tests. Data on VARK learning styles were summarized using frequency (count) and relative frequency (percentage). Data of pre-test and post-test scores were summarized using mean and standard deviation. T-test was used to compare pre-test and post-test scores. The difference between the pre-test results, the post-test results and the preferred learning style was analyzed using ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc testing. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: In a total of 100 trainees, tri-modal and multimodal learning styles were preferred by 40% and 30% of the trainees respectively; on the contrary, the unimodal and bimodal learning styles were the least preferred. In the trimodal and multimodal groups, the post-test results showed significant increase when compared with the pre-test results. Also, using the ANOVA test and a Tukey's post-hoc comparison, the assemblage of multiple learning styles (tri-modal and multimodal) appeared to significantly improve the learning performance in the post-test results when compared with the unimodal and bimodal groups. Conclusion: The tri-modal and multimodal learning styles were found to influence the acquirement of the laboratory parasitology skills much better than the unimodal and bimodal learning styles. Kinesthetic learning should have a special emphasis in training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with high blood pressure in India often miss essential follow-up visits. Missed visits contribute to gaps across the hypertension care continuum and preventable cardiovascular disease. Widespread misconceptions around hypertension care and treatment may contribute to low follow-up attendance rates, but to date, there is limited evidence of the effect of interventions to debunk such misconceptions on health-seeking behavior. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to measure whether combining information debunking commonly-held misconceptions with a standard reminder reduces missed follow-up visits among individuals with high blood pressure and investigated whether any observed effect was moderated through belief change. Methods: We recruited 388 patients with uncontrolled blood pressure from the outpatient wards of two public sub-district hospitals in Punjab, India. Participants randomly assigned to the intervention arm received two WhatsApp messages, sent 3 and 1 days before their physician-requested follow-up visit. The WhatsApp message began with a standard reminder, reminding participants of their upcoming follow-up visit and its purpose. Following the standard reminder, we included brief debunking statements aimed at acknowledging and correcting common misconceptions and misbeliefs about hypertension care seeking and treatment. Participants in the control group received usual care and did not receive any messages. Results: We did not find evidence that the enhanced WhatsApp reminders improved follow-up visit attendance (Main effect: 2.2 percentage points, p-value = 0.603), which remained low across both treatment (21.8%, 95% CI: 15.7%, 27.9%) and control groups (19.6%, 95% CI: 14.2%, 25.0%). Participants had widespread misconceptions about hypertension care but our debunking messages did not successfully correct these beliefs (p-value = 0.187). Conclusions: This study re-affirms the challenge of continuity of care for chronic diseases in India and suggests that simple phone-based health communication methods may not suffice for changing prevalent misconceptions and improving health-seeking behavior. Trial registration: The trial began on July 18th. We registered the trial on July 18th (before recruitment began), including the main outcomes, on the German Clinical Trial Register [Identifier: DRKS00029712] and published a pre-analysis plan in the Open Science Framework [osf.io/67g35]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversational structure and, more specifically, the procedures for starting a conversation, have been analysed from different theoretical perspectives, fundamentally based on oral corpora. The arrival of new digital communication systems has made it possible for speakers to chat through other channels, such as WhatsApp. In this article, we consider if the forms of expression used to start a conversation on WhatsApp are similar to those that appear in a prototypical colloquial conversation or if, on the contrary, new linguistic resources have emerged. To answer this question, we apply the theoretical model of pragmatic linguistics (Fuentes Rodríguez 2000) in the analysis of a corpus of WhatsApp conversations. Ultimately, we aim to offer an approach to the nature of the digital communication that takes place on this instant messaging platform, which seems to prioritize maintaining the speech continuity of the entire interaction over the delimitation of conversational units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines students' perceptions of teacher authority in WhatsApp groups compared to the traditional classroom setting, with a focus on female students attending religious high schools. The strict authority structures inherent in these settings provide a unique context for the research. Most students reported finding it easier to challenge teacher authority in WhatsApp groups than in the classroom, citing five key reasons. Additionally, we identified six patterns of resistance to teachers' stipulations within these groups. The discussion highlights the significance of this increased opposition to teachers' demands and the adoption of new response patterns in WhatsApp groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognosis of breast cancer, depends significantly on its stage. However, early diagnosis happens infrequently due to delayed seeking of medical attention; and women's knowledge about the disease is important for timely diagnosis. We conducted this study to examine whether education offered via a traditional booklet or WhatsApp yielded superior results in increasing women's breast cancer knowledge. For this, an educational content organized in an easy language was delivered by two different methods to women attending our clinic: Video messages were sent to Group A by WhatsApp, and Group B received an easy-to-use attractive small book. Prticipants filled in a pre-test before, and a post-test three months after the intervention. Totally, 164 women completed the study; 86 in Group A, and 78 in Group B. The mean age was 42 (18–61) years. The two groups matched by age and level of education, and pre-test knowledge scores were statistically similar (p-value >0.05). The learning rate (p = 0.040) and the satisfaction rate (p = 0.014) were significantly higher in Group A, and the emotional improvement was also more prominent (but not statistically significant) in this group. There was no significant association between the studying rate and the rate of learning. This study showed that a short easy teaching program about breast cancer delivered via WhatsApp caused a higher rate of learning than the traditional paperback mode. Considering that WhatsApp is a very popular mobile application, this is a very useful finding in the topic of women's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital literacy affects how people use the internet. However, we argue that the concept of "digital literacy" cannot usefully be applied to all internet users; there is simply too much heterogeneity across devices, platforms, and social contexts. We conduct surveys in Mexico and Colombia to understand how these people use the internet. We find that WhatsApp is by far the dominant platform across all sectors of society. In contrast to evidence from the US, we find that education is a better predictor of two measures of digital literacy than is age. We then conduct a survey experiment to test how people understand news shared on WhatsApp. We find that the inclusion of a link to source material increases respondents' trust in a message shared on WhatsApp, but that the platform-supplied note that a message has been shared many times has no such effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media has become central to how political parties plan, organize, and coordinate electoral campaigns in Africa, with WhatsApp increasingly the preferred medium. How, we ask, have African political parties made use of WhatsApp to organize internally during elections, and what explains the approaches they have taken? We argue that pre-existing party institutionalization is the main factor influencing how parties use WhatsApp to organize and coordinate campaign events, and reach voters. Comparing Ghana and Nigeria, we show that more institutionalized parties create formal, hierarchical online structures, with in-group policing of message content. Conversely, less institutionalized parties rely on informal, personality-based online structures with unclear hierarchies and where there is little message discipline. This matters both for the spread of mis/disinformation and inflammatory content online, and for parties' future organizational strength. In both instances, "digital clientelism" ensures that existing patrimonial structures are replicated online, restricting the empowerment of new political actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on WhatsApp political memes is still scarce. Nevertheless, since the 2018 Brazilian elections, the platform has attracted the attention of the media in general, after complaints of its use to spread misinformation and extremist messages by supporters of the Bolsonaro Government. Despite this, the effects of the WhatsApp platform on the user practices of sharing memes are still poorly understood. This article proposes a cross-platform comparative approach, between the digital memes on Twitter and those on WhatsApp, to better understand how user practices are affected by some of the structural singularities of these platforms. Based on a sample of 1,794 memes collected on both platforms, this study finds that there is a higher than expected frequency of ideological memes on WhatsApp in relation toTwitter. The findings suggest that WhatsApp's environmental opacity favors the emergence of an extremist memesphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Continuing Medical Education (CME) is crucial for physicians to stay current in the rapidly advancing field of medicine. A WhatsApp (WA) based community of physicians was initiated in 2016 'WhatsApp CME India Group' to facilitate learning, knowledge sharing, and discussion among physicians. Due to participant size constraints of the technology, it evolved into seven distinct WA groups, overseen by a central administrator. A survey undertaken in the group's 7th year aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving its goals, measure participant engagement, and uncover the primary factors driving its usage. Methods: The survey questionnaire was distributed to 3500 members across the 07 WhatsApp CME groups for voluntary participation. Data collected was analysed using SPSS version 24.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and reported using descriptive statistics. Results: Among the 581 survey respondents, the study found 43% of physicians use the WhatsApp academic groups for CME content, with 32% accessing their group over four times daily. The primary motivation for 77% was to discuss challenging cases and to gain knowledge updates from fellow physician (70%). Medical websites (57%), referral books (49%), and Google (43%) were other significant resources. Every participant (100%) found the WhatsApp CME India group the most beneficial resource for daily medical science updates. A significant portion (57%) of the respondents found the group valuable for real-time information exchange. Over 78% stated it kept them current with knowledge and guidelines. Notably, 94% viewed WhatsApp CME as complementary to physical conferences, not a replacement. The post-conference/webinar summaries were appreciated by 81% participants. Case discussions (31%) and update posts from fellow physicians sharing their insights and learnings (24%) were noted as activities of great academic interest. Conclusion: This study underscores the potential of digital platforms like WhatsApp in supplementing CME in India and potentially other comparable settings. The blend of digital and traditional resources suggests a balanced learning approach. While real-time engagement is a strength, challenges like information overload and privacy concerns require careful management. Striking a balance is crucial for ensuring content quality, structured discussions and privacy. As the digital age advances, professionals must critically assess shared information on these platforms to guarantee evidence-based and reliable knowledge dissemination. Trial registration: ARK 001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]