Social Media Paediatrics: Enhancing WhatsApp use in Paediatrics Specialty Training

There is a huge focus on social and other forms of digital media at present revolutionising learning and teaching methods however other traditional forms such as printed media are well known in assisting educators. Social media applied within medical education is an example of the application of educational media in practice. Instant messaging application has the inherent capacity to facilitate communication within the hospital community and therefore enhancing learning opportunities. WhatsApp has become very popular is some aspect of medical education and clinical practice however in paediatrics and child health dedicated WhatsApp use is still emerging. This narrative review examines enhancing WhatsApp use in paediatrics specialty training. While the innovative technology of WhatsApp social media platform is highly impressive tool to motivate, augment learning, also applaud as evidenced by it use in our paediatric unit as educational and communication tool ultimately impacting on patients care and healthcare delivery but in its current form WhatsApp is said to be unsafe to handle patient data and is inappropriate for use in a clinical environment but further research needed to ascertain its safety in a clinical environment.