The use of WhatsApp as a social communication medium in the context of ethical values in a healthcare facility business environment in the Northern Cape

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dc.contributor.advisorVan Zyl, H.en_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorCrous, C.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorStulting, Andries Andriessenen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2023-09-29T12:08:59Z
dc.date.available2023-09-29T12:08:59Z
dc.date.issued2020en_ZA
dc.descriptionDissertation (MBA (Business Administration))--University of the Free State, 2020en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe primary research objective of the research study was to analyse ethical values in a healthcare facility business environment with particular reference to WhatsApp as a social communication medium in the Northern Cape. The study was guided by the following secondary research objectives, namely: (i) To discuss social media as a communication medium, with particular reference to WhatsApp; (ii) To identify the current problem areas in the use of WhatsApp in the healthcare facility in the Northern Cape; (iii) To identify the understanding of leaders in a private healthcare facility about the optimal use of WhatsApp in a healthcare facility in the Northern Cape; and (iv) To implement guidelines for the safe use of WhatsApp in the healthcare facility in the Northern Cape. In order to reach the primary objective of this study, a qualitative research design was followed. Semi-structured interviews were held with members of the healthcare facility's Core Management Team which consist of two parts. The first part is a selfadministered section, which consists of closed-ended questions in a Likert scale format. The answers provided in this section allowed the researcher to ask more indepth questions in the second part of the interview, to gain a deeper understanding of the responses provided in the self-administered portion of the interview. The majority of participants felt that using WhatsApp to reach a patient is acceptable while confidential patient information should only be shared via WhatsApp with the consent of the patient. Additionally, management also seem to understand the use of WhatsApp as a communication tool as they felt equipped to use WhatsApp as a social medium platform. Although a current policy at the healthcare facility addresses the use of Facebook as a social media platform for communication, there is no official policy for the use of WhatsApp as a social media communication tool. Recommendations for the implementation of WhatsApp as communication tool thus included the implementation of a policy that specifically state that no personal information should be communicated via WhatsApp. This policy should be communicated to all staff as well as extensive training in the use of WhatsApp should be offered in an effort to align the awareness and consistent implementation of such a policy.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11660/12272
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherUniversity of the Free Stateen_ZA
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Free Stateen_ZA
dc.subjectWhatsAppen_ZA
dc.subjectsocial communication mediumen_ZA
dc.subjecthealthcare facilityen_ZA
dc.subjectbusiness environmenten_ZA
dc.subjectethicalen_ZA
dc.subjectsafe guidelinesen_ZA
dc.titleThe use of WhatsApp as a social communication medium in the context of ethical values in a healthcare facility business environment in the Northern Capeen_ZA
dc.typeDissertationen_ZA
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