What is it about?
This pilot study was designed to determine the conversational structure on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), pattern of knowledge sharing and knowledge sharing behaviour of healthcare practitioners (HCP) on Medscape online network. The study was guided by Conversation Theory, and deployed a retrospective document/content analysis research design. Results revealed that news on EVD were mostly on EVD outbreak management at the peak period of EVD outbreak in 2014. Also, the HCPs mostly engaged in knowledge sharing on issues relating to EVD risk. Findings revealed that the entire (37) newsposts were of interest to HCPs and they responded to 16 newsposts. There were three active and influential HCPs on the network
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Why is it important?
The study was an exercise to continuously improve knowledge sharing with instant access to life-saving data and preventing the reoccurrence of devastating and possibly epidemic diseases such as the Ebola virus disease. This corresponds to the National Healthcare Bill (NHB) of the Federal Government of Nigeria of mandatory establishment of health forum to facilitate interaction, communication, collaboration and knowledge sharing on National Health issues among concerned bodies in order to improve the quality of patient care and reduce the overall costs of healthcare in the society (National Healthcare Bill, 2014). The study contributed to the research tradition of knowledge sharing and continuous advancements by pro viding a global awareness and use of strategies to take preventive measures on pandemic outbreak. Specific findings in the study had useful implications in the theory and application of knowledge sharing on health and illness.
Perspectives
The novelty of the study stems from its focus on conversation patterns of HCP on online knowledge sharing using the variables of Conversation theory to examine their knowledge sharing behaviours. The outcome of the study could serve as a model for other studies on other trending viral diseases such as Coronavirus, Lassa Fever, Monkey pox, etc
Prof Wole Michael Olatokun
University of Ibadan
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Patterns and conversational structure of knowledge sharing on Ebola virus disease among healthcare practitioners: Observations from a pilot study, Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, July 2022, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/09610006221106180.
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