Table 2 Type of messages exchanged
From: The blue tick: WhatsApp as a care tool in pediatric palliative care
Code Message | Definition of Message Type | Example of Message Type |
|---|---|---|
Informative | ||
Symptomatology | Information on physical symptoms, well-being, or discomfort related to aspects of the pathology or associated aids | “I always have burning and cramping in my stomach, and yesterday, I had diarrhea right after eating and started sweating. The other night, I was in bed, started sweating, and felt like fainting again because of stomach cramps.” |
“I have a lot of discomfort from the new mattress after surgery.” | ||
Procedures | Information and/or organization related to procedures undergone or procedures/visits to other departments or hospitals in the regional/national territory | “Hello, I am going to Treviso, they called us for a video fluoroscopy…" |
Visits | Organization and outcomes of medical visits (day hospital Hospice admission) | “Good morning, doctor, do you remember me? I am A. |
Scheduling meetings/appointments (in-person/remote) with a psychologist; home visits (psychologist, psychologist + doctor) | ||
General Health | Information about general well-being | “Anyway, I am doing fine… I measured my oxygen saturation, and it is a bit low.” |
Psychological | ||
Personal Aspects | Positive or negative emotions and/or thoughts regarding school, daily life, returning home after procedures/hospitalization, nightmares, and/or somatization related to operations/interventions | “…I know that tomorrow I will cry a little because my life sucks; when I go to school, they tell me to die, so it seems like everyone wants me dead; I know my life sucks, and it does not make sense. I have many problems, they have nothing. It is better to have a shitty life, and tomorrow I know everyone will make fun of me…" |
Exploration/sharing of symptoms and concerns → managing uncertainty | ||
Peer relationship aspects | Emotions and/or positive or negative thoughts regarding sharing personal/disease aspects with peers | “… Let’s say I have this discomfort talking to other boys or girls in the hospital, I do not know why… I start having not-so-positive feelings as if I want to run away from that person and never talk to them again, even though they just want to make friends and be nice to me.” |
Family relationship aspects | Emotions and/or positive or negative thoughts regarding intrafamily relationships | “Better this way… so my dad and I do not fight because it is always like this lately.” |
I would love to have a chat with you, when can we talk?”