The Etiquette of Mobile Device Use by Doctors in Trauma and Orthopaedics
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Abstract
Background
The etiquette surrounding the use of smartphones and mobile devices has been previously identified as a barrier to use in an educational context 1,2.
Objective
To investigate the influence of mobile device use on patient and staff opinions in the Trauma and Orthopaedics department at a teaching hospital in Wales.
Methods
A survey of patients at the bedside and staff in their work environment was undertaken. Data included age, frequency of observed use and suspected main reason for use and whether doctors’ use of a mobile device positively or negatively influenced their opinion of them as a professional and as a person.
Results
59 patients and 35 staff responded. The modal age range was 40 to 54 years. Most patients (78%) never see doctors using mobile devices in the workplace, compared with 3% of staff. The main reason for use was thought to be ‘communicating with colleagues’ (48%) followed by ‘internet use/applications for work reasons’ (40%). Approximately 40% of patients' opinions of junior doctors were positively influenced by device use, compared with 80% of staff. This difference between patient and staff opinions was statistically significant for both professional (p=0.0001) and personal (p=0.002) opinions.
Conclusion
Patients are likely to have a negative opinion of junior doctors using mobile devices. This can be balanced by the more positive opinions of colleagues. We would advise doctors to remember ‘mobiquette’ around patients.
Reference:
1. Ellaway R, Masters K. AMEE Guide 32: e-Learning in medical education Part 1: Learning, teaching and assessment. Medical Teacher 2008; 30(5): 455-73.
2. Davies BS, Rafique J, Vincent TR, Fairclough J, Packer MH, Vincent R, et al. Mobile Medical Education (MoMEd)-how mobile information resources contribute to learning for undergraduate clinical students: a mixed methods study. BMC Medical Education 2012; 12(1): 1.
The etiquette surrounding the use of smartphones and mobile devices has been previously identified as a barrier to use in an educational context 1,2.
Objective
To investigate the influence of mobile device use on patient and staff opinions in the Trauma and Orthopaedics department at a teaching hospital in Wales.
Methods
A survey of patients at the bedside and staff in their work environment was undertaken. Data included age, frequency of observed use and suspected main reason for use and whether doctors’ use of a mobile device positively or negatively influenced their opinion of them as a professional and as a person.
Results
59 patients and 35 staff responded. The modal age range was 40 to 54 years. Most patients (78%) never see doctors using mobile devices in the workplace, compared with 3% of staff. The main reason for use was thought to be ‘communicating with colleagues’ (48%) followed by ‘internet use/applications for work reasons’ (40%). Approximately 40% of patients' opinions of junior doctors were positively influenced by device use, compared with 80% of staff. This difference between patient and staff opinions was statistically significant for both professional (p=0.0001) and personal (p=0.002) opinions.
Conclusion
Patients are likely to have a negative opinion of junior doctors using mobile devices. This can be balanced by the more positive opinions of colleagues. We would advise doctors to remember ‘mobiquette’ around patients.
Reference:
1. Ellaway R, Masters K. AMEE Guide 32: e-Learning in medical education Part 1: Learning, teaching and assessment. Medical Teacher 2008; 30(5): 455-73.
2. Davies BS, Rafique J, Vincent TR, Fairclough J, Packer MH, Vincent R, et al. Mobile Medical Education (MoMEd)-how mobile information resources contribute to learning for undergraduate clinical students: a mixed methods study. BMC Medical Education 2012; 12(1): 1.
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