Introduction of handheld computing to a family practice residency program

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Digital Health Tools

Background:

• Handheld computers offer valuable practice tools for physicians.
• Integrating this technology into residency programs is essential.
• A formal strategy was developed to introduce handheld computing in a family practice residency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a formal strategy for introducing handheld computing to family practice residents.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of structured training in equipping physicians with practical digital skills.

Main Methods:

• A training program utilized TRGpro handheld computers with medical reference software, calculators, and databases.
• Training comprised four 1-hour modules, each with a quiz.
• Participant skills were assessed via self-assessment questionnaires against program objectives.

Main Results:

• Sixty-two participants completed the training, achieving a mean quiz score of 90%.
• Participants reported high comfort with practical skills (e.g., drug references) but lower comfort with theoretical knowledge.
• Third-year residents demonstrated higher self-rated proficiency.

Conclusions:

• Structured training is a successful strategy for integrating handheld computing into residency programs.
• This approach effectively equips physicians with essential digital practice tools.