Measure of engagement by people with epilepsy on Whatsapp
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Level of engagement assessment when using Whatsapp for social support
IRAS ID
193485
Contact name
Adina Nash
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 13 days
Research summary
A minimum of 400,000 people in the UK are estimated to suffer from Epilepsy. Many feel isolated and do not know others with epilepsy. Existing methods to connect people are often too costly, inaccessible or time consuming. We are researching a more effective alternative using WhatsApp mobile application (a text based chat application currently in use by over 400 million people around the world).
The purpose of this study is to assess a person with epilepsy’s level of engagement with WhatsApp.
Up to 300 people with epilepsy will be recruited and complete an initial questionnaire. Primary participation criteria is having epilepsy, be fluent in written and spoken English and have a smartphone. They will then be instructed to download the WhatsApp application and placed into it. Participants will be placed in WhatsApp together as much as possible based on their life-circumstances. Participants can participate (also known as posting) as much or little as they want for a minimum of six weeks. At the end of this period, participants will be given a final questionnaire.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0066
Date of REC Opinion
29 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion