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Smartphones in clinical practice: doctors’ experience at two Dublin paediatric teaching hospitals

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Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

We conducted a study at two main centres for paediatric surgery in the Republic of Ireland, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital (TSCUH) and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC).

Aim

The aim of the study was to assess doctors’ opinions, frequency and methods of smartphone use in clinical practice.

Methods

Doctors (n = 265) at the two hospitals were invited to complete a 12-item survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated accordingly.

Results

Almost 50% (132/256) responded; 98.4% owned a smartphone and 76% owned an iPhone. Seventy-nine percent used medical apps and 59% used the OLCHC formulary. Ninety-seven percent used smartphones for inter-team communication with 73.5% (n = 97) using WhatsApp. Smartphone camera was used by 57% for clinical photos and 41% for photos of radiological imaging. Only 42% reported obtaining consent for smartphone camera use from patients or guardians. Ninety-two percent either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that smartphones positively impact their practice.

Conclusion

Smartphone usage is universal among healthcare professionals and their influence is growing in patient care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff City Centre, Apt 95 Havvanah Street, Sovereign Quay, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 5SF, UK

    Taha S. El Hadidy

  2. Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Cooley Road, Crumlin, Dublin12, Ireland

    Abdulrahman E. Alshafei

  3. Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin1, Ireland

    Alan E. Mortell

  4. Human Factors in Patient Safety, RCSI, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Eva M. Doherty

Authors
  1. Taha S. El Hadidy
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  2. Abdulrahman E. Alshafei
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  3. Alan E. Mortell
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  4. Eva M. Doherty
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taha S. El Hadidy.

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Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of institutions involved, the national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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El Hadidy, T.S., Alshafei, A.E., Mortell, A.E. et al. Smartphones in clinical practice: doctors’ experience at two Dublin paediatric teaching hospitals. Ir J Med Sci 187, 565–573 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-017-1713-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-017-1713-x

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