The use of communication applications among anaesthetists and other medical professionals in Australia: results of a national survey

Communication applications offer healthcare professionals a simple, instantaneous and direct form of connection within a healthcare team. This cross-sectional survey aimed to examine current usage patterns among Australian medical practitioners and assess their understanding of data security and ethical considerations. Among 151 respondents, most of whom were anaesthetists (77%) practising in metropolitan centres (82%) across South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales, the Apple iPhone was the most popular device type (77%) while WhatsApp was the preferred application for facilitating patient-based discussions (75%). Doctors sent an average of one to 10 patient-related messages per week, although junior doctors were significantly more likely to exceed this number. The majority (66%) of doctors felt comfortable sharing non-identifying patient information, in comparison to 32% who felt comfortable sharing identifying patient information. Participants demonstrated inconsistent understanding of consent and documentation requirements when transmitting patient data. These findings highlight the routine use of communication applications in Australian hospitals and emphasise the need for greater clinician education on privacy obligations and the development of clear, ethical guidelines for their use in healthcare.