Survey of handheld computing among medical students

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify trends in the utilization and acceptance of handheld computers (personal digital assistants) among medical students during preclinical and clinical training. We surveyed 366 medical students and collected information on computer expertise, current handheld computer use, predicted future use, and user acceptance. Handheld computers were primarily used for personal applications by students during their preclinical training and as drug references and clinical calculators during their clinical training. In the future, all participants predicted they would use handheld computers at significantly higher rates and on a broader range of medical applications. The adoption of handheld computing was independent of user satisfaction. Those with more clinical experience were less satisfied with handheld computers, suggesting that the expectations of the more experienced users were not met. The lack of institutional support was seen as a key limitation.

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Introduction and background

Handheld computers, also known as PDAs or personal digital assistants, are growing in popularity among physicians [1], [2], [3]. The two main varieties of these devices are the Palm computer and the Pocket PC. Both are inexpensive, lightweight, and portable. They are small enough to fit into a shirt pocket. Through a direct connection or wireless network, they can integrate seamlessly with other computers.

While the adoption of handheld computers is on the rise, the breadth of clinical

Methods

We surveyed two groups of medical students. The preclinical group consisted of students who completed their preclinical training and were just starting their third-year clinical clerkships. The clinical group included students who were just completing their third-year clinical clerkships. Eligible participants at the George Washington University were students who attended a Practice of Medicine seminar, and were asked to fill out a paper-based version of the survey. Eligible participants from

Results

The participants provided information on usage patterns and user acceptance, which was normalized to create a utilization index (UI) and a satisfaction index (SI). These figures, shown as averages, percentages, or actual number counts, were analyzed for statistical significance using two-factor ANOVA and two-tailed paired t-tests. Linear relationships were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients with two tails for the level of significance. In addition, a two-factor ANOVA was

Future expectations

The participants expressed an optimism for the future of handheld computing that was not reflected by the current utilizations of these devices. Handheld computers were used for personal activities and on a limited number of clinical applications. However, in the future, all participants strongly expected to use handheld computers for electronic medical records, patient tracking, clinical decision support, progress notes, lab results, and order entry.

This difference between the current role of

Conclusion

We presented a survey on the use and acceptance of handheld computing among medical students from the George Washington University and the University of Maryland. The students considered handheld computing an essential technology that was integral to their performance as future clinicians. There was however, a significant difference between the current role of handheld computers and future expectations. Those with more clinical experience were less satisfied with handheld computers, suggesting

Acknowledgement

The authors thank W. Scott Schroth and Venise Lewis at the George Washington University School of Medicine for their assistance.

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