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Doctors' experience with handheld computers in clinical practice: qualitative study.

Ann Scheck McAlearney1, Sharon B Schweikhart, Mitchell A Medow

  • 1Division of Health Services Management and Policy, Ohio State University, School of Public Health, 1583 Perry Street, Atwell 246, Columbus, OH 43210-1234, USA. mcalearney.1@osu.edu

BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|May 15, 2004
PubMed
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Doctors using handheld computers in clinical practice reported satisfaction and perceived benefits in productivity and patient care. Overcoming technology barriers and concerns about over-reliance are key for wider adoption.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Informatics
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Clinical Practice Research

Background:

  • Handheld computers (HHCs) are increasingly available for clinical use.
  • Understanding physician experiences is crucial for effective technology integration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore doctors' perspectives on using HHCs in their daily practice.
  • To identify facilitators and barriers to HHC adoption and utilization.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study involving eight focus groups with 54 physicians.
  • Diverse medical specialties and practice settings across the United States were included.

Main Results:

  • Physicians using HHCs reported satisfaction, increased productivity, and improved patient care.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Barriers included technology comfort, preference for paper, and perceived difficulty of use.
  • Concerns were raised regarding reliability, security, and potential over-reliance, substituting clinical thinking.

    • Conclusions:

    • HHCs are seen as valuable tools for point-of-care support and improving patient care.
    • HHCs can serve as an entry point for broader adoption of health information technology.
    • Organizational support in purchasing, training, and user support is recommended to promote HHC use.