Evaluation of Smartphone Use by Medical Students and Residents in Clinical Practice

Smartphones as tools having special features such as medical software, connection to the internet and computing capabilities, are valuable assistants to healthcare providers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the purpose and rate of use of smartphones by medical interns and residents during training and clinical practice. This was a survey conducted in 2014 on a number of interns (47 person) and residents (50 Persons) studying in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Participants were asked to answer to a nameless questionnaire consisting of questions on the rate of use of smartphone apps, rate of work-related phone calls via smartphones, and the most commonly used medical and non-medical apps. The mean age of responders was 27.9 ± 4.0 years. According to Likert scale, the most popular use of smartphone for both interns and residents participating in this survey included making or receiving calls (4.3 ± 1.9), sending or receiving text messages (3.9 ± 1.9) and use of medical and pharmaceutical software. Comparing the use of smartphones between the two groups; the use of web chat and social network software (P=0.021), taking photo from non-medical subjects (P=0.022) and playing games (P=0.003) was significantly higher among interns than residents. Conversely, taking photo of patients and medical subjects was significantly more common in residents compared to interns (P=0.038). The number of work-related phone calls was higher by residents compared to interns, and the difference was close to the level of significance (P=0.059). The most frequently used app among residents and interns was “UpToDate” (73%). Residents and Interns use their smartphones on a daily basis during clinical practice for making contacts, taking photos and accessing to medical software and websites. Necessary guidance on the proper use of these devices pertinent to safe preservation of patient's information, and restrictions on the use of these devices in certain clinical settings should be provided. In addition, advice is needed on the validity and reliability of medical apps and websites.