Is smartphone a necessity or luxury among orthopedic specialty?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utilisation pattern of smart phones by residents and consultants with respect to their clinical work and academics. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was carried out in orthopaedic departments of various hospitals in Karachi in July 2014. Orthopaedic residents and consultants were asked to fill a questionnaire containing various questions, including utilisation of their smart phones for professional applications, books, internet and emails; and sharing of clinical data. RESULTS: A total of 98residents and consultants were approached and 83(84.7%) of them filled up the questionnaire. Of them, 70(84.3%) owned a smart phone and represented the study sample. Of them, 60(85.7%) were using applications on their mobile phone; and 27(38.6%) were using them for sharing clinical data with colleagues. The use of smart phone applications was more among residents than consultants (p=0.010) and the same applied to data sharing (p=0.028). AO Surgery reference was the most utilised application in 43(61.4%). Besides, 46(65.7%) respondents were using smart phones to read text books; 60(85.7%) were using internet on their smart phones for browsing web pages and to check emails; and 62(88.6%) wanted to have more applications available related to orthopaedic practice. Only 1(1.4%) respondent was willing to pay for these applications. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of orthopaedic caregivers owned a smart phone, but their clinical use was limited which may be enhanced to improve patient care.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Among 83 respondents (84.7% response rate), 70 (84.3%) owned a smartphone. Of smartphone owners, 60 (85.7%) used applications and 27 (38.6%) used smartphones to share clinical data; residents reported higher application use (p=0.010) and data sharing (p=0.028) than consultants. Many used smartphones for reading textbooks (65.7%) and for internet/email (85.7%), and most wanted more orthopaedic-related apps (88.6%), while 1.4% were willing to pay for them.

Outcomes measured

• Smartphone ownership
• Use of smartphone applications for clinical work
• Sharing clinical data via smartphone
• Use of smartphone for reading textbooks
• Use of smartphone internet/email for professional purposes
• Interest in more orthopaedic-related applications
• Willingness to pay for applications

Limitations

• Cross-sectional design
• Questionnaire/self-reported measures
• Conducted in orthopaedic departments of various hospitals in Karachi; generalisability may be limited
• Exposure to EMF not measured; study focuses on utilisation patterns rather than health effects

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "smartphone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Orthopaedic residents and consultants in orthopaedic departments of various hospitals in Karachi",
    "sample_size": 83,
    "outcomes": [
        "Smartphone ownership",
        "Use of smartphone applications for clinical work",
        "Sharing clinical data via smartphone",
        "Use of smartphone for reading textbooks",
        "Use of smartphone internet/email for professional purposes",
        "Interest in more orthopaedic-related applications",
        "Willingness to pay for applications"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Among 83 respondents (84.7% response rate), 70 (84.3%) owned a smartphone. Of smartphone owners, 60 (85.7%) used applications and 27 (38.6%) used smartphones to share clinical data; residents reported higher application use (p=0.010) and data sharing (p=0.028) than consultants. Many used smartphones for reading textbooks (65.7%) and for internet/email (85.7%), and most wanted more orthopaedic-related apps (88.6%), while 1.4% were willing to pay for them.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design",
        "Questionnaire/self-reported measures",
        "Conducted in orthopaedic departments of various hospitals in Karachi; generalisability may be limited",
        "Exposure to EMF not measured; study focuses on utilisation patterns rather than health effects"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "smartphone",
        "mobile phone",
        "orthopaedics",
        "residents",
        "consultants",
        "clinical applications",
        "medical education",
        "Karachi",
        "questionnaire",
        "utilisation pattern"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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