How a mobile app supports the learning and practice of newly qualified doctors in the UK: an intervention study

BMC Medical Education

Mark Stacey²  Wendy Hardyman⁴  Joseph Lovatt⁵  Katie Webb¹  Rebecca Dimond³  Alison Bullock¹ 

[1]The Cardiff Unit for Research and Evaluation in Medical and Dental Education (CUREMeDE), Cardiff University School of Social Sciences, Glamorgan Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Wales, CF10 3WT, UK

[2]Wales Deanery, School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (PGMDE), Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4YS, Wales, UK

[3]Cesagene, Cardiff University, 10/12 Museum Place, Wales, CF10 3BG, UK

[4]Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Aberconway Building, Column Drive, Cardiff CF10 3EU, Wales, UK

[5]Capita Project Services, Module 1, Level 2, Friends Life Centre, Bristol BS34 8SW, England, UK

关键词: Patient safety;    Transitions;    Smartphones;    Trainee doctors;    Workplace learning;    Technology enhanced learning;   

Others  :  1206362
DOI  :  10.1186/s12909-015-0356-8

 received in 2014-11-07, accepted in 2015-03-27,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

The transition from medical school to the workplace can be demanding, with high expectations placed on newly qualified doctors. The provision of up-to-date and accurate information is essential to support doctors at a time when they are managing increased responsibility for patient care. In August 2012, the Wales Deanery issued the Dr.Companion© software with five key medical textbooks (the iDoc app) to newly qualified doctors (the intervention). The aim of the study was to examine how a smartphone app with key medical texts was used in clinical workplace settings by newly qualified doctors in relation to other information sources and to report changes over time.

Methods

Participants (newly qualified - Foundation Year 1 - doctors) completed a baseline questionnaire before downloading the iDoc app to their own personal smartphone device. At the end of Foundation Year 1 participants (n = 125) completed exit questionnaires one year later. We used Wilcoxon Signed Rank test to analyse matched quantitative data.

Results

We report significant changes in our participants’ use of workplace information resources over the year. Respondents reduced their use of hard-copy and electronic versions of texts on PCs but made more use of senior medical staff. There was no significant difference in the use of peers and other staff as information sources. We found a significant difference in how doctors felt about using a mobile device containing textbooks in front of patients and senior medical staff in the workplace.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that a mobile app enabling timely, internet-free access to key textbooks supports the learning and practice of newly qualified doctors. Although participants changed their use of other resources in the workplace, they continued to consult with seniors. Rather than over-reliance on technology, these findings suggest that the app was used strategically to complement, not replace discussion with members of the medical team. Participants’ uncertainty about using a mobile device with textbook app in front of others eased over time.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Bullock et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

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