Getting the Most Out of Mobile Devices in Primary Care: Remember It’s More Than a Pager
Mobile Devices Are Pervasive
In ever-increasing numbers, health care providers, trainees, and patients carry mobile devices into the clinical setting.1-2 Mobile applications (apps) can provide access to useful information and tools like formularies, clinical calculators, and access to electronic medical records.3 During the autumn of 2013, medical students, residents, and attending physicians at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the impact of mobile devices in a clinical setting. Study participants provided recommendations for proper device etiquette and ways to optimize effectiveness when using mobile devices with patients.
Based on this survey, when devices are used like a pager (ie, only for receiving information) they are perceived to be an interruption or distraction, and patients may perceive their use as rude. By contrast, when clinicians share the reason for using mobile devices or include patients during use, the impact of the devices is favorable. Study participants recommended learning to use the device before using it in front of a patient to avoid the appearance of awkwardness. The study revealed a need to develop a shared understanding of the etiquette related to using mobile devices in health care.
We created a faculty development workshop based on the insight gleaned from responses to the survey.4 The hour-long, hands-on workshop includes:
- Basic navigation where participants learn how to quickly open and close apps as well as how to move quickly between a small (one to three) number of open apps.
- Practice taking photos and screen shots and editing them.
Productivity tools like cloud-based storage and managing PDF files - Creating patient education pieces using images and PDFs and practice presenting them.
During the workshop there is opportunity for a rich discussion about practical guidelines for including patients with mobile devices.
References
- Kwon NS, Colucci A, Gulati R, et al. A survey of the prevalence of cell phones capable of receiving health information among patients presenting to an Urban Emergency Department. J Emerg Med 2013;44(4):875–88. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2012.09.04
- Wac K. Smartphone as a personal, pervasive health informatics services platform: literature review. Yearb Med Inform 2012;7(1):83-93. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22890347.
- Aungst TD. Medical applications for pharmacists using mobile devices. Ann Pharmacother 2013;47(7-8):1088-95. doi:10.1345/aph.1S035.
- Hurtubise LC, Hall E, Khandelwal S. Mobile Apps 2.0: Leveraging iPads for Medical Education Across the Continuum, to Graduate Medical Education Professionals. San Diego, CA.
- UC iPad etiquette checklist. http://sites.uci.edu/imeded/2012/10/01/october-2012-ccd-showcase-mobile-technology-etiquette-checklist/ Accessed March 22, 2015.
