The use of emoji to establish student wellbeing: does the image reflect the reality?

Callender, Jenny ORCID: 0000-0003-2230-0613, Bridge, Pete ORCID: 0000-0001-7704-9812, Al-Samarraie, Flora and Blair, Daniel (2022) The use of emoji to establish student wellbeing: does the image reflect the reality? Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, 22 (4). pp. 1-5.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1460396921000704

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec id="S1460396921000704_as1"> <jats:title>Introduction:</jats:title> <jats:p>The impact of COVID-19 social restrictions on mental wellbeing of health professional students during placement is largely unknown. Conventional survey methods do not capture emotional fluctuations. Increasing use of smartphones suggests short message service (SMS) functionality could provide easy, rapid data. This project tested the feasibility and validity of gathering data on Therapeutic Radiography student mental wellbeing during clinical placement via emoji and SMS.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S1460396921000704_as2"> <jats:title>Methods:</jats:title> <jats:p>Participants provided anonymous daily emoji responses via WhatsApp to a dedicated mobile phone. Additional weekly prompts sought textual responses indicating factors impacting on wellbeing. A short anonymous online survey validated responses and provided feedback on the method.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S1460396921000704_as3"> <jats:title>Results:</jats:title> <jats:p>Participants (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 15) provided 254 daily responses using 108 different emoji; these triangulated with weekly textual responses. Feedback concerning the method was positive. ‘Happy’ emoji were used most frequently; social interaction and fatigue were important wellbeing factors. Anonymity and opportunity to feedback via SMS were received positively; ease and rapidity of response engendered engagement throughout the 3-week study.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S1460396921000704_as4"> <jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title> <jats:p>The use of emoji for rapid assessment of cohort mental wellbeing is valid and potentially useful alongside more formal evaluation and support strategies. Capturing simple wellbeing responses from a cohort may facilitate the organisation of timely support interventions.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	emoji, radiotherapy, therapeutic radiographer, Wellbeing
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health > School of Health Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2022 11:03
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 21:14
DOI:	10.1017/s1460396921000704
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1460396921000704
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3147687