Journal article
Efficiency of instant messaging applications in coordination of emergency calls for combat injuries: A pilot study
Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES, Vol.23(3), pp.207-211
05/01/2017
DOI: 10.5505/tjtes.2016.37897
PMID: 28530773
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Coordination of an emergency response team is an important determinant of prompt treatment for combat injuries in hospitals. The authors hypothesized that instant messaging applications for smartphones could be appropriate tools for notifying emergency response team members. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of a commercial instant messaging application (WhatsApp, Mountain View, CA) as a communication tool for the emergency team in a level-I trauma center.
METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the messages in the instant messaging application group that was formed to coordinate responses to patients who suffered from combat injuries and who were transported to our hospital via helicopter during an 8-week period. We evaluated the response times, response time periods during or outside of work hours, and the differences in the response times of doctors, nurses, and technicians among the members of the emergency team to the team leader's initial message about the patients.
RESULTS: A total of 510 emergency call messages pertaining to 17 combat injury emergency cases were logged. The median time of emergency response was 4.1 minutes, 6 minutes, and 5.3 minutes for doctors, nurses, and the other team members, respectively. The differences in these response times between the groups were statistically significant (p= 0.03), with subgroup analyses revealing significant differences between doctors and nurses (p= 0.038). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the doctors and the technicians (p= 0.19) or the nurses and the technicians (p= 1.0). From the team leader's perspective, using this application reduced the workload and the time loss, and also encouraged the team.
CONCLUSION: Instant messaging applications for smartphones can be efficient, easy-to-operate, and time-saving communication tools in the transfer of medical information and the coordination of emergency response team members in hospitals.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Efficiency of instant messaging applications in coordination of emergency calls for combat injuries: A pilot study
- Creators
- Sami Eksert - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Anesthesiol & Reanimat, Sirnak, TurkeyMehmet Burak Asik - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Otolaryngol Head & Neck Surg, Sirnak, TurkeySinan Akay - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Radiol, Sirnak, TurkeyKenan Keklikci - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Orthoped & Traumatol, Sirnak, TurkeyFevzi Nuri Aydin - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Biochem, Sirnak, TurkeyMehmet Coban - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Infect Dis, Sirnak, TurkeyAli Kantemir - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Orthoped & Traumatol, Sirnak, TurkeyOnur Gungor - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Pediat, Sirnak, TurkeyBeyazit Garip - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Psychiat, Sirnak, TurkeyMustafa Suphi Turgut - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Gen Surg, Sirnak, TurkeyKenan Olcay - Sirnak Mil Hosp, Dept Eye Dis, Sirnak, Turkey
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES, Vol.23(3), pp.207-211
- Publisher
- Turkish Assoc Trauma Emergency Surgery
- DOI
- 10.5505/tjtes.2016.37897
- PMID
- 28530773
- ISSN
- 1306-696X
- Number of pages
- 5
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/01/2017
- Academic Unit
- Radiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984702945602771
Metrics
2 Record Views