Palmtop computer residency log

This pilot study explored the usefulness of portable electronic organizers (palmtop computers) to log residents' clinical activity. Nine residents were randomly assigned palmtops, 18 continued using a nonautomated system (paper log). After 8 months, resident compliance, frequency of data entry, and submission of log data were better in the palmtop group. Data are easily transferred from the palmtop to a desktop computer data base to generate reports. Start-up costs are comparable to other automated systems, and ongoing costs are minimal. The palmtop log appears to be a viable alternative to the paper log.