Utility of WhatsApp media to promote judicious use of antimicrobials in resource-limited settings

Abstract

Background: Promotion of rational antimicrobial use among health professionals is one of the cornerstones of a successful antimicrobial stewardship program. Various educational tools available do not provide a regular supply of updated information and can be expensive and inconvenient for the busy health-care professionals in resource-limited settings. Materials and Methods: An academic activity was conducted in the form of a daily WhatsApp tip on “rational antimicrobial use” over 2 months by a local branch of an academic body for pediatricians based in Navi Mumbai, India. Results: Evaluation of this tool through an online questionnaire resulted in 116 responses. The geographical locations of responders were widely distributed in India. The scientific content was rated as “excellent” by 78% and practical utility as “extremely helpful” by 73%. This tool was a preferred option as second-order (22%) and third-order (25%) of choices, among other educational tools such as textbooks, conferences, workshops, and training modules. Conclusion: Digital media in the form of WhatsApp can be an inexpensive tool for education for rapid mass coverage, provided that the scientific content is brief for daily assimilation and maintained at superior quality. It can be used for promoting evidence-based practices among health professionals, especially in resource-limited settings.