'It's on my iPhone': attitudes to the use of mobile computing devices in medical education, a mixed-methods study

Sean Wallace, Marcia Clark, Jonathan White, Sean Wallace, Marcia Clark, Jonathan White

Abstract

Objective: The last decade has seen the introduction of new technology which has transformed many aspects of our culture, commerce, communication and education. This study examined how medical teachers and learners are using mobile computing devices such as the iPhone in medical education and practice, and how they envision them being used in the future.

Design: Semistructured interviews were conducted with medical students, residents and faculty to examine participants' attitudes about the current and future use of mobile computing devices in medical education and practice. A thematic approach was used to summarise ideas and concepts expressed, and to develop an online survey. A mixed methods approach was used to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings.

Setting and participants: Medical students, residents and faculty at a large Canadian medical school in 2011.

Results: Interviews were conducted with 18 participants (10 students, 7 residents and 1 faculty member). Only 213 participants responded to the online survey (76 students, 65 residents and 41 faculty members). Over 85% of participants reported using a mobile-computing device. The main uses described for mobile devices related to information management, communication and time management. Advantages identified were portability, flexibility, access to multimedia and the ability to look up information quickly. Challenges identified included: superficial learning, not understanding how to find good learning resources, distraction, inappropriate use and concerns about access and privacy. Both medical students and physicians expressed the view that the use of these devices in medical education and practice will increase in the future.

Conclusions: This new technology offers the potential to enhance learning and patient care, but also has potential problems associated with its use. It is important for leadership in medical schools and healthcare organisations to set the agenda in this rapidly developing area to maximise the benefits of this powerful new technology while avoiding unintended consequences.

References

    1. Franko OI, Tirrell TF. Smartphone app use among medical providers in ACGME training programs. J Med Syst Published Online First: 4 November 2011. doi:
    1. Ho K, Lauscher HN, Broudo M, et al. The impact of a personal digital assistant (PDA) case log in a medical student clerkship. Teach Learn Med 2009;21:318–26
    1. Kurth RJ, Silenzio V, Irigoyen MM. Use of personal digital assistants to enhance educational evaluation in a primary care clerkship. Med Teach 2002;24:488–90
    1. Lasserre K, Eley D, Baker P, et al. Medical students out of town but not out of touch: use of personal digital assistants to improve access to clinical information and enhance learning at the point of care in rural and remote Australia. Aust J Rural Health 2010;18:87–8
    1. Farrell MJ, Rose L. Use of mobile handheld computers in clinical nursing education. J Nurs Ed 2008;47:13–19
    1. Sutton J, Stockton L, McCord G, et al. Handheld computer use in a family medicine clerkship. Acad Med 2004;79:1114–19
    1. Dala-Ali BM, Lloyd MA, Al-Abed Y. The uses of the iPhone for surgeons. The Surgeon 2011;9:44–8
    1. Luanrattana R, Win KT, Fulcher J, et al. Mobile technology use in medical education. J Med Syst. 2012;36:113-22
    1. Phillippi JC, Buxton M. Web 2.0: easy tools for busy clinicians. J Midwif Women's Health 2010;55:472–6
    1. Zolfo M, Iglesias D, Kiyan C, et al. Mobile learning for HIV/AIDS healthcare worker training in resource-limited settings. AIDS Res Ther 2010;7:35.
    1. White JS, Sharma N, Boora P. Surgery 101: evaluating the use of podcasting in a general surgery clerkship. Med Teach 2011;33:941–3
    1. Kubben P. Neurosurgical apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android. Surg Neurol Int 2010;1:89.
    1. Oehler RL, Smith K, Toney JF. Infectious diseases resources for the iPhone. Clin Infect Dis 2010;50:1268–74
    1. Berger E. The iPad: gadget or medical godsend? Annals Emerg Med 2010;56:A21–2
    1. Hagland M. Handheld juggernaut. Healthcare Informatics 2010;27:8, 12–14
    1. Busis N. Mobile phones to improve the practice of neurology. Neurologic Clinics of NA 2010;28:395–410
    1. Brusco JM. Using smartphone applications in perioperative practice. AORN J 2010;92:503–8
    1. Baumgart DC. Smartphones in clinical practice, medical education, and research. Arch Intern Med 2011;171:1294–6
    1. Gamble KH. Wireless Tech Trends 2010. Trend: smartphones. Healthc Inform 2010;27:24, 26–7
    1. Trelease RB. Diffusion of innovations: smartphones and wireless anatomy learning resources. Anat Sci Ed 2008;1:233–9
    1. Visser BJ, Bouman J. There's a medical app for that. BMJ Careers Published Online First: 18 April 2012.
    1. Carr N. The shallows: what the internet is doing to our brains. W. W. Norton & Company, New York City, NY, 2011
    1. Johnson CA. The information diet: a case for conscious consumption. O'Reilly Media, Sebastapol, CA, 2012
    1. Davies BS, Rafique J, Vincent TR, et al. Mobile Medical Education (MoMEd)—how mobile information resources contribute to learning for undergraduate clinical students—a mixed methods study. BMC Med Educ 2012;12:1.
    1. Richtel M. As doctors use more devices, potential for distraction grows. NY Times, New York City, NY, 2011
    1. Smith T, Darling E, Searles B. 2010 Survey on cell phone use while performing cardiopulmonary bypass. Perfusion 2011;26:375–80
    1. Westbrook JI, Woods A, Rob MI, et al. Association of interruptions with an increased risk and severity of medication administration errors. Arch Intern Med 2010;170:683–90
    1. Westbrook JI, Coiera E, Dunsmuir WTM,, et al. The impact of interruptions on clinical task completion. Qual Saf Health Care 2010;19:284–9
    1. Wu R, Rossos P, Quan S, et al. An evaluation of the use of smartphones to communicate between clinicians: a mixed-methods study. J Med Internet Res 2011;13:e59.
    1. Mallikharjuna Rao NM, Sasidhar C, Satyendra Kumar V. Cloud computing through mobile-learning. Int J Adv Comp Sci Applic 2010;1:42–7
    1. Putzer GJ, Park Y. The effects of innovation factors on smartphone adoption among nurses in community hospitals. Perspect Health Inform Manag 2010;1:1b

Source: PubMed

Спонсоры и соавторы

Заболевания

Медикаментозные вмешательства

Подписаться