WhatsApp and Gynecologist-Patient Interaction: Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess the Stress Perceived by the Doctor

Abstract

Objective Construction and validation of the WhatsApp Stress Scale (WASS), a questionnaire designed for physicians that measures how the use of smartphones and related software communication applications affects the quality of life of gynecologists who use this tool to communicate with patients.

Methods The present cross-sectional observational study analyzed 60 gynecologists according to weekly WhatsApp usage time for communication with patients and compared the data with the perception of the doctor on the use of this virtual interaction as a stressor. Physicians were equally divided into three groups: < 2 hours, 2 to 5 hours, and > 5 hours. The authors created a questionnaire in Likert scale format. The study proceeded in three phases: development of the questionnaire items, pretesting, constructing, and validity and reliability testing using factor analysis, Cronbach α coefficient, and paired t-test.

Results A 9-item instrument using a 5-point Likert scale was created and administered to the participants in 3 different times: T0, T1 (15 minutes after the end of T0), and T2 (15 days later). All questionnaire items possessed adequate content validity indices and the internal consistency of the instrument was satisfactory (Cronbach α 0.935; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.744–0.989; p = 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were observed in the responses between the rounds of testing, indicating good test-retest reliability. A positive association between the high frequency of WhatsApp usage for communication with patients and the stress perceived by the doctor was shown.

Conclusion The WASS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the use of messaging applications to communicate with patients as a stressor perceived by gynecologists.

Resumo

Objetivo Construção e validação do WhatsApp Stress Scale (WASS, na sigla em inglês), questionário desenvolvido para médicos que avalia como o uso do smartphones e aplicativos de comunicação afetam a qualidade de vida dos ginecologistas que usam estas ferramentas para comunicação com pacientes.

Métodos O presente estudo transversal observacional analisou 60 ginecologistas de acordo com o tempo de uso semanal do WhatsApp para comunicação com pacientes e comparou os dados de percepção dos médicos do uso desta interação virtual como agente estressor. Os profissionais foram igualmente divididos em 3 grupos: < 2 horas, de 2 a 5 horas e > 5 horas. Foi criado um questionário no formato de escala tipo Likert. O estudo procedeu em três fases: desenvolvimento dos itens do questionário, pré-teste, construção, validação de constructo e teste de confiabilidade usando análise fatorial, coeficiente alfa de Cronbach e teste t pareado.

Resultados Um instrumento com 9 itens foi criado e administrado aos participantes em 3 tempos diferentes: T0, T1 (15 minutos após o término de T0) e T2 (15 dias depois). Todos os itens possuíam validade de conteúdo adequada e a consistência interna do instrumento foi satisfatória (alfa de Cronbach 0,935; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95%: 0,744–0,989; p = 0,0001). Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as rodadas de teste, indicando boa confiabilidade teste-reteste. Foi demonstrada uma associação positiva entre maior tempo de uso do WhatsApp para comunicação com pacientes e estresse percebido pelos médicos.

Conclusão O WASS demonstra ser um instrumento válido e confiável para avaliar o uso de aplicativos de mensagens para comunicação médico-paciente como agente estressor percebido pelo ginecologista.

Keywords

mobile applications - occupational stress - physician-patient relations - smartphone - questionnaire

Palavras-chave

aplicativos móveis - estresse ocupacional - relações médico-paciente - smartphone - questionário

Contributors

Veiga M. G. contributed to the conception and design of the work, helped with interpretation of data for the work and wrote the manuscript in consultation with Felizi R. T. and Oliveira E.. Fernandes C. E. and Oliveira E. conceived the study, helped with interpretation of data for the work and performed the analytic calculations. Veiga M. G., Felizi R. T., and Oliveira E. performed the analysis of the material obtained and helped with the interpretation of data for the work. All authors provided critical revision for important intellectual content, discussed the results, and contributed to the final approval of the version to be published. All of them agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or the integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 26. April 2021

Angenommen: 11. Januar 2022

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
20. April 2022

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