Introducing personal digital assistants to family physician teachers.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND

AND OBJECTIVES:
In our previous projects, students and residents have readily adopted personal digital assistants (PDAs), but faculty have generally been reluctant. The objective of the project reported here was to maximize adoption of PDAs by our faculty, using a combination of strategies.

METHODS:
Through cost-shared funding, we provided full-time and community teachers with PocketPCs or Handspring Visors, along with preinstalled medical software. Use patterns and satisfaction were assessed by structured questionnaire and focus group discussions.

RESULTS:
For the calendar, address book, and pharmacopoeia, we found that 83% of faculty use these two to three times per day. Cost sharing and software preinstallation were popular. Device synchronization and e-mail showed potential but caused problems. Easy access to technical support from peers and a variety of information-sharing structures eased maintenance issues. Point-of-care data access was important to faculty.

CONCLUSIONS:
With the right support structures, faculty adopt PDAs in clinical and teaching settings.

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Author information

Author/s: Topps, David (D); Thomas, Roger (R); Crutcher, Rodney (R);

Affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, UCMC Sunridge, Alberta, Canada. topps@ucalgary.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Family medicine (Fam Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jan; vol 35 (issue 1) : pp 55-9

Dates: Created 2003/02/04; Completed 2003/05/15; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12564866, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Computers, Handheld - economics; statistics & numerical data
Costs and Cost Analysis
Data Collection
Faculty, Medical
Family Practice - education
Female
Humans

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