Questionnaire‐based study showed that neonatal chest radiographs could be reliably interpreted using the WhatsApp messaging application

Aim We surveyed whether clinicians used the WhatsApp messaging application to view neonatal chest radiographs and asked a sub‐sample to compare them with computer screen viewings. Methods The study was conducted at three university‐affiliated medical centres in Israel from June–December 2016. Questionnaires on using smartphones for professional purposes were completed by 68/71 paediatric residents and 20/28 neonatologists. In addition, 11 neonatologists viewed 20 chest radiographs on a computer screen followed by a smartphone and 10 viewed the same radiographs in the opposite order, separated by a washout period of 2 months. After another 2 months, five from each group viewed the same radiographs on a computer screen. Different interpretations between viewing modes were assessed. Results Most respondents used WhatsApp to send chest radiographs for consultation: 82% of the paediatric residents and 80% of the neonatologists. The mean number of inconsistencies in diagnosis was 3.7/20 between two computer views and 2.9/20 between computer and smartphone views (p = 0.88) and the disease severity means were 3.7/20 and 2.85/20, respectively (p = 0.94). Neonatologists using WhatsApp only determined umbilical line placement in 80% of cases. Conclusion WhatsApp was reliable for preliminary interpretation of neonatal chest radiographs, but caution was needed when assessing umbilical lines.