A presentation from the E-Learning in Health Conference 2011.
The medical information needed by practitioners has exploded. Smartphone devices can afford immediate electronic access to books/journals and have potential to provide 'just-in-time' reliable medical information for both education and practice. The 'iDoc' project is an initiative supported by the Wales Deanery. Building on an earlier pilot trainee doctor participants across Wales are issued with a Smartphone device micro SD card and software application containing 17 medical textbooks.
Use of mobile technology has undergone limited evaluation in healthcare workplace settings. Evaluation is integral to iDoc: questionnaires administered at baseline and later points collect data on frequency type usefulness and variation in device use alongside other commonly accessed information sources in the workplace (e.g. senior medical staff peers hardcopy textbooks). In addition case studies of use are being collated. Preliminary findings suggest the technology is used (a) as a 'just-in-time' information resource in daily clinical practice particularly when other sources are not available e.g. when senior staff are busy and an initial diagnosis or treatment of patients is needed; (b) as a resource for context-based teaching in the clinical setting; and (c) to access e-portfolios and other resources.
The evaluation will report on how Smartphone technology may support learning and inform the future use of such devices in the education of trainee doctors.
