Interns and Their Smartphones: Use For Clinical Practice
Interns and Their Smartphones: Use For Clinical Practice
Of the 108 respondents (47.0% response rate, 108/230), a total of 102 (94.4%, 102/108) reported owning a smartphone. Of those interns who owned a smartphone, 66.7% (68/102) owned an iPhone, 26.5% (27/102) owned an android phone, and the remaining 6.9% (7/102) owned another type of smartphone (eg, Windows phone, Blackberry). To simplify the text for the rest of the article, 'respondent' will refer to all questionnaire respondents who owned a smartphone, with the percentages calculated based upon the 102 respondents who owned a device.
A total of 85/102 (83.3%) of the smartphone users who responded to the survey made or received a work related phone call, 89/102 (87.3%) wrote or received a text and 42/102 (41.2%) sent or received an email at least once a day. By far the most common reasons provided were to answer bleeps (phone calls only), obtain medical advice on a patient from a senior, and summarise the day's events with seniors ( Table 1 ). Examples of work related activities mentioned by no more than two respondents that are not included in Table 1 were: to receive results; to receive job requests; to phone general practitioners; and human resources related activities.
A total of 52.9% (54/102 respondents) of respondents had used their smartphone to take a picture at work, with 22.5% (23/102 respondents) taking a picture at least once a week. For those interns who used their smartphones to take pictures, the most common reasons provided were: for research (28/102 respondents); to obtain help interpreting a result (ECG or chest x-ray) (19/102 respondents); and for advice on a wound or lesion from a senior team member (16/102 respondents).
A total of 73/102 (71.6%) of the smartphone-using respondents reported using at least one work related app a month, and 69/102 (67.6%) respondents reported accessing at least one work related website a month (see Table 2 for more details).
Half of the interns accessed an app on at least on a daily basis (51/102; 50.0%). Details on the frequency with which the respondents reported using their smartphones to access apps to carry out a task are provided in Table 3 .
The BNF app was the app most commonly used by the interns (31/102; 30.4%). Other apps mentioned, but not included in Table 3 , included 'MD on call' (used at least once a month by 16/102 (15.7%) of respondents) and a drug dosage calculator (used at least once a month by 9/102 (8.8%) of respondents). A total of 25 other apps were reported to be used by one or two respondents at least once a month (eg, MicroMedex, Epocrates).
Details on the frequency with which the respondents reported using their smartphones to access websites to perform their work (or to carry out a task) are provided in Table 4 . Although websites were not used as commonly as apps, almost half of the smartphone owning interns reported accessing a website on their smartphone for a work related purpose at least once a month. The most commonly accessed website was Wikipedia, with 39/102 (38.2%) of the respondents accessing it in order to perform their job at least once a week. The next most commonly accessed website was Medscape (accessed by 26/102 (25.5%) of the respondents at least once a week).
A website mentioned by respondents, but not included in Table 4 , is Medicines.ie (used at least once a month by 4/102 (3.9%) of respondents). A total of 12 other websites were reported to be used by one or two respondents at least once a month (eg, drugs.com, Melbourne consent).
Results
Of the 108 respondents (47.0% response rate, 108/230), a total of 102 (94.4%, 102/108) reported owning a smartphone. Of those interns who owned a smartphone, 66.7% (68/102) owned an iPhone, 26.5% (27/102) owned an android phone, and the remaining 6.9% (7/102) owned another type of smartphone (eg, Windows phone, Blackberry). To simplify the text for the rest of the article, 'respondent' will refer to all questionnaire respondents who owned a smartphone, with the percentages calculated based upon the 102 respondents who owned a device.
Phone Calls, Texts and Emails
A total of 85/102 (83.3%) of the smartphone users who responded to the survey made or received a work related phone call, 89/102 (87.3%) wrote or received a text and 42/102 (41.2%) sent or received an email at least once a day. By far the most common reasons provided were to answer bleeps (phone calls only), obtain medical advice on a patient from a senior, and summarise the day's events with seniors ( Table 1 ). Examples of work related activities mentioned by no more than two respondents that are not included in Table 1 were: to receive results; to receive job requests; to phone general practitioners; and human resources related activities.
Taking Work Related Pictures
A total of 52.9% (54/102 respondents) of respondents had used their smartphone to take a picture at work, with 22.5% (23/102 respondents) taking a picture at least once a week. For those interns who used their smartphones to take pictures, the most common reasons provided were: for research (28/102 respondents); to obtain help interpreting a result (ECG or chest x-ray) (19/102 respondents); and for advice on a wound or lesion from a senior team member (16/102 respondents).
Access Apps and Websites
A total of 73/102 (71.6%) of the smartphone-using respondents reported using at least one work related app a month, and 69/102 (67.6%) respondents reported accessing at least one work related website a month (see Table 2 for more details).
Half of the interns accessed an app on at least on a daily basis (51/102; 50.0%). Details on the frequency with which the respondents reported using their smartphones to access apps to carry out a task are provided in Table 3 .
The BNF app was the app most commonly used by the interns (31/102; 30.4%). Other apps mentioned, but not included in Table 3 , included 'MD on call' (used at least once a month by 16/102 (15.7%) of respondents) and a drug dosage calculator (used at least once a month by 9/102 (8.8%) of respondents). A total of 25 other apps were reported to be used by one or two respondents at least once a month (eg, MicroMedex, Epocrates).
Details on the frequency with which the respondents reported using their smartphones to access websites to perform their work (or to carry out a task) are provided in Table 4 . Although websites were not used as commonly as apps, almost half of the smartphone owning interns reported accessing a website on their smartphone for a work related purpose at least once a month. The most commonly accessed website was Wikipedia, with 39/102 (38.2%) of the respondents accessing it in order to perform their job at least once a week. The next most commonly accessed website was Medscape (accessed by 26/102 (25.5%) of the respondents at least once a week).
A website mentioned by respondents, but not included in Table 4 , is Medicines.ie (used at least once a month by 4/102 (3.9%) of respondents). A total of 12 other websites were reported to be used by one or two respondents at least once a month (eg, drugs.com, Melbourne consent).
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