Use of Instant Messaging Software in a German Hospital—An Exploratory Investigation among Physicians

Internationally, evidence exists that physicians use instant messaging services for communication tasks in everyday clinical practice However, there are only few data on physicians in Germany in this regard. Therefore, at the initiation of our project “DocTalk-Dialog meets Chatbot: Collaborative Learning and Teaching in the Process of Work”, we conducted a stakeholder survey with an exploratory research approach. The aim was to gain initial insights into use of instant messaging software and attitudes towards data security and advantages and disadvantages before implementing a data-secure in-house messaging platform. N = 70 physicians at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin completed an exploratory questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using thematic analysis. The use of messenger software was not widespread in the sample studied. Physicians most frequently used face-to-face contact for communication. On average, up to ten instant messages were exchanged per day, mainly among colleagues, to answer mutual questions, and to send pictures. With a high awareness of privacy-related restrictions among participating physicians, advantages such as fast and uncomplicated communication were also highlighted. An instant messenger solution that complies with the German data protection guidelines is needed and should be investigated in more detail.