title: Novel ways of improving communication with members of health professional associations.
abstract: The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) supported the Nepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NESOG) to help influence national health policy and practice through FIGO's Leadership in Obstetrics and Gynecology for Impact and Change (LOGIC) Initiative in Maternal and Newborn Health. An Organizational Capacity Improvement Framework, developed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), was used to evaluate NESOG's initial baseline organizational capacity in 2010. Communication among NESOG members was rated as moderate (39%). Several initiatives, such as the use of high-speed internet access, group SMS texts and emails for information sharing, member profile updates, use of social media, and regular updates to the NESOG website were examples of interventions that resulted in improved participation of members in NESOG's activities. Members were impressively active in reciprocating via Facebook, and via participation in online voting in the NESOG elections (84%).
authors.affiliation: Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Electronic address: deopushpa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pushpa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: KIST Medical College Teaching Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal.
authors.forename: Heera
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tuladhar
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007390:International Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration; D020407:Internet; D007857:Leadership; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009390:Nepal; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Communication; FIGO LOGIC initiative; Health Professional Associations; Media; Members; Nepal; Obstetrics and Gynecology Societies