Advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study: WhatsApp as a method to identify perceptions and practices

The focus of this article is to provide the reader with reflexivity and a framework for using mobile ethnography. Based on a case study with an ethnographic approach (including mobile ethnography using WhatsApp), we identified perceptions and practices for improved workflows and procedures related t...

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Main Authors: Thomas Bjørner, Morten Schrøder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2019-08-01
Series:Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/qrmh/article/view/7795
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author Thomas Bjørner
Morten Schrøder
author_facet Thomas Bjørner
Morten Schrøder
author_sort Thomas Bjørner
collection DOAJ
description The focus of this article is to provide the reader with reflexivity and a framework for using mobile ethnography. Based on a case study with an ethnographic approach (including mobile ethnography using WhatsApp), we identified perceptions and practices for improved workflows and procedures related to nurses’ introduction and implementation of self-catheterization at the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Great Britain. We offer detailed procedures, advantages, and challenges in using mobile ethnography. The ethnographic approach consisted of four phases, including initial workshops, go-along observations, interviews, and a mobile ethnographic approach using WhatsApp as a mobile diary for six nurses. Within the case study, three major themes were revealed by the ethnographic approach, with the conclusion that nurses have positive attitudes towards self-catheterization, but these nurses are becoming less influential and the practices around this technique are consequently disappearing. The main result is that use of WhatsApp as a self-tracking tool can extend the methodological toolbox, but reflexivity and preliminary work are required to make the practice beneficial.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2532-2044
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publishDate 2019-08-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
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series Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare
spelling doaj-art-9fd165ce90bd4ba0b307af2ac5f4fb312025-08-20T03:57:03ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare2532-20442019-08-013210.4081/qrmh.2019.7795Advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study: WhatsApp as a method to identify perceptions and practicesThomas Bjørner0Morten Schrøder1Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University, CopenhagenWilke, CopenhagenThe focus of this article is to provide the reader with reflexivity and a framework for using mobile ethnography. Based on a case study with an ethnographic approach (including mobile ethnography using WhatsApp), we identified perceptions and practices for improved workflows and procedures related to nurses’ introduction and implementation of self-catheterization at the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Great Britain. We offer detailed procedures, advantages, and challenges in using mobile ethnography. The ethnographic approach consisted of four phases, including initial workshops, go-along observations, interviews, and a mobile ethnographic approach using WhatsApp as a mobile diary for six nurses. Within the case study, three major themes were revealed by the ethnographic approach, with the conclusion that nurses have positive attitudes towards self-catheterization, but these nurses are becoming less influential and the practices around this technique are consequently disappearing. The main result is that use of WhatsApp as a self-tracking tool can extend the methodological toolbox, but reflexivity and preliminary work are required to make the practice beneficial.https://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/qrmh/article/view/7795Mobile EthnographyInterviewsWhatsAppWorkflows
spellingShingle Thomas Bjørner
Morten Schrøder
Advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study: WhatsApp as a method to identify perceptions and practices
Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare
Mobile Ethnography
Interviews
WhatsApp
Workflows
title Advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study: WhatsApp as a method to identify perceptions and practices
title_full Advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study: WhatsApp as a method to identify perceptions and practices
title_fullStr Advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study: WhatsApp as a method to identify perceptions and practices
title_full_unstemmed Advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study: WhatsApp as a method to identify perceptions and practices
title_short Advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study: WhatsApp as a method to identify perceptions and practices
title_sort advantages and challenges of using mobile ethnography in a hospital case study whatsapp as a method to identify perceptions and practices
topic Mobile Ethnography
Interviews
WhatsApp
Workflows
url https://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/qrmh/article/view/7795
work_keys_str_mv AT thomasbjørner advantagesandchallengesofusingmobileethnographyinahospitalcasestudywhatsappasamethodtoidentifyperceptionsandpractices
AT mortenschrøder advantagesandchallengesofusingmobileethnographyinahospitalcasestudywhatsappasamethodtoidentifyperceptionsandpractices