%0 Journal Article
%T Realizing the potential of real
%A Ali Al-Ibrahim
%A Nada Alayed
%A Rohan D¡¯Souza
%A Sergio Carmona
%J Obstetric Medicine
%@ 1753-4968
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1753495X18754457
%X This study aimed to explore the potential of using instant messaging to enhance patient-care and physician-education in obstetric medicine and maternal¨Cfetal medicine. This retrospective study examined real-time correspondence between a closed group of maternal¨Cfetal medicine physicians and fellows-in-training. Correspondence was grouped into four domains. Time to obtain a response and their utility was analysed. Over the two-year period, 41 international members contributed 534 clinically relevant messages (291 stems and 243 responses). Of these, 33% were advice seeking, 23.4% case-sharing, 35% educational content and 8.2% miscellaneous content. The median response time was 52 min, and 53% responded in less than 60 min. At least one response in each case influenced clinical management. Instant messaging is effective for real-time clinical collaboration and could serve as an important platform for enhancing management and continuing education for obstetric medicine and maternal¨Cfetal medicine physicians. International societies should consider exploring this avenue further
%K Continuing medical education
%K instant messaging
%K maternal¨Cfetal medicine
%K obstetric medicine
%K real-time collaboration
%K WhatsApp
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1753495X18754457