Digital platforms enable the transfer of information across geographical and social boundaries. A number of these platforms have grown within the health sector, creating online health communities that facilitate specialist peer support and teaching. But why do experts and professionals volunteer their time to teach others using these online platforms?

A recent study by Dr Petros Chamakiotis and Dr Dimitra Petrakaki  (University of Sussex Business School) and Professor Niki Panteli (School of Management, Royal Holloway University of London) explores what motivates clinicians to voluntarily teach on the online platform entitled MedicineAfrica and how this creates value for those involved and for their community.

MedicineAfrica is a digital health platform that connects UK-based medical professionals with healthcare workers and students from countries with weak or little access to healthcare education (such as Somaliland and Palestine). The platform aims to provide opportunities for training, mentorship, teaching and research with the belief that “good healthcare should be accessible to all".

The study, conducted over two years, involved online observations, interviews and questionnaires with 17 MedicineAfrica members with differing roles and from different geographical locations.

The study reveals the trajectories of the volunteers’ commitment to MedicineAfrica over time, from initial motives for joining to their growing commitment, responsibility and role within the MedicineAfrica community; and explains how individual and social value are generated through the community.

The findings from the study have been collated as a visual brochure, which has been distributed to participants across the globe.

View the full brochure. 

Further information: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/business-school/documents/medicine-africa-digital-brochure.pdf