Research: Parental Perceptions on Smartphone Use for Clinical Mobility

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Technology
• Clinical Mobility
• Patient Perceptions

Background:

• Smartphones are increasingly integral to healthcare delivery.
• Previous research on patient perceptions predates current clinical mobility platforms and did not differentiate device types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate neonatal intensive care unit parents' perceptions of two smartphone types (personal vs. industrial) within a clinical mobility platform.
• To compare parental comfort, privacy concerns, and perceived functionality between personal and industrial smartphones.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 59 parents of infants in a neonatal intensive care unit.
• The survey assessed beliefs about smartphone utility in child care, privacy/security concerns, and perceived functionality for each device type.

Main Results:

• Most parents believed smartphones aid in child care, regardless of device type.
• Parents reported greater comfort and fewer privacy concerns with industrial phones compared to personal phones.
• Parents perceived industrial phones as more capable of receiving emergency alerts/alarms.

Conclusions:

• Parental perceptions of smartphones in healthcare are generally positive but show device-specific differences.
• Industrial smartphones may offer advantages in perceived security and functionality for clinical settings.
• Educational interventions are needed to optimize understanding of smartphone value in clinical mobility.