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Handheld computer use in U.S. family practice residency programs.

Dan F Criswell1, Michael L Parchman

  • 1Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Lawton, Oklahoma, USA. dancriswell@ouhsc.edu

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA
|December 26, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Handheld computers, or personal digital assistants (PDAs), are widely adopted in US family practice residencies. These devices are increasingly used for clinical reference, textbooks, and calculations, extending beyond basic organization.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Education Technology
  • Family Medicine Residency Training
  • Digital Health Tools

Background:

  • Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are handheld computers that offer portable computing capabilities.
  • The integration of technology into medical education is crucial for modern training programs.
  • Family practice residency programs are key training grounds for future primary care physicians.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the current utilization of handheld computers (personal digital assistants, PDAs) within family practice residency programs across the United States.
  • To identify the patterns of use and non-use of PDAs in these educational settings.

Main Methods:

  • A national survey was conducted in November 2000, distributing questionnaires to program directors of all AAFP and ACOFP residency programs.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The study collected data on the adoption rates, operating systems (Palm, Windows CE), and implementation plans for PDAs.
  • Information was gathered on the types of applications used, funding models, and maintenance responsibilities for PDAs.

    • Main Results:

    • Approximately 50% of surveyed programs responded, with two-thirds already using PDAs and 14% planning implementation within two years.
    • Palm OS was the most common operating system; military programs showed the highest usage (80%), while osteopathic programs had the lowest (42%).
    • Common clinical applications included medication references, electronic textbooks, and clinical calculators, with many programs lacking dedicated budgets and relying on faculty/resident maintenance.

    Conclusions:

    • Handheld computers (PDAs) are extensively integrated into US family practice residency programs.
    • Beyond their initial design as organizers, PDAs are actively employed as essential clinical tools for medication references, electronic textbooks, and computational tasks.
    • The use of PDAs in residencies reflects a shift towards digital solutions for tracking activities previously managed by desktop applications.