Smartphone Use and Acceptability Among Clinical Medical Students: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Abstract

Smartphones are becoming increasingly common in both personal and professional spheres. These devices have many features which can be successfully harnessed in healthcare, including rapid access to information, instant communication and improved organisation. In particular, the smartphone’s potential as an educational tool is an area which is starting to gain recognition, with a number of institutions providing the device to medical students. However, before more universities follow suit, a better understanding of students’ ownership, usage and attitudes relating to smartphones is required. We therefore distributed a questionnaire to clinical medical students at the University of Birmingham, UK, which aimed to fill these gaps in knowledge. Data were obtained from 361 participants, representing a response rate of 32 %. Fifty-nine per cent of students owned a smartphone; 37 % of these reported using the device to support their learning. Generally students were positive towards the concept of smartphones as future educational aids, with 84 % believing the devices would be useful or very useful. However, 64 % thought smartphones would be too costly to implement and 62 % felt such technology was not in the medical school’s interest. Themes which emerged upon analysis of free text supported general findings, with students also mentioning issues such as potential for unprofessional behaviour and dependence upon smartphones. In conclusion, it appears most medical students believe a smartphone would be a useful addition to their education, although financial barriers must be overcome before the device is more universally accepted.

Appendix

• 1. Are you…

  □ Male

  □ Female

• 2i. Do you have a smartphone?

  □ Yes

  □ No

• 2ii. If yes, what type?

  □ iPhone	□ Blackberry	□ Android
  □ Other (please specify)
  .............................................................................................................

• 3. What are your reasons for having/not having a smartphone?

• 4i. Do you currently use any smartphone applications specifically to aid your learning in the course?

  □ Yes

  □ No

• 4ii. If yes, which application(s) do you use most regularly?

  ......................................................................................

• 5. How useful would you find a smartphone in your medical education?

  □ Very useful

  □ Useful

  □ Not useful

  □ Completely useless

• 6. In which areas do you think a smartphones would be most useful?

  □ Time management	□ Assessment	□ Bedside teaching
  □ Information gathering	□ Communication	□ Other (please specify)
  .............................................................................................................

• 7. Do you think providing students with smartphones would represent good use of the medical school’s budget?

  □ Strongly agree

  □ Agree

  □ Disagree

  □ Strongly disagree

• 8. How useful would a smartphone be in communication (emails, announcements, attendance, organising teaching sessions) with the medical school?

  □ Very useful

  □ Useful

  □ Not useful

  □ Completely useless

• 9. How useful would a smartphone be in terms of assessment?

  □ Very useful

  □ Useful

  □ Not useful

  □ Completely useless

• 10. How useful would you find the ability to access medical information instantly during your bedside teaching?

  □ Very useful

  □ Useful

  □ Not useful

  □ Completely useless

• 11. What impact do you think a smartphone would have on your learning?

  □ Vital part	□ Useful aid	□ Not helpful	□ Distraction
  □ Other (please specify)
  .............................................................................................................

• 12. “I have the technological skills to use a smartphone.” Considering this statement, do you:

  □ Strongly agree

  □ Agree

  □ Disagree

  □ Strongly disagree

• 13. “Having access to a smartphone on wards would mean I spent less time with patients.” Considering this statement, do you:

  □ Strongly agree

  □ Agree

  □ Disagree

  □ Strongly disagree

• 14. “It is in the medical school’s interest to introduce smartphones onto the course.” Considering this statement, do you:

  □ Strongly agree

  □ Agree

  □ Disagree

  □ Strongly disagree

• 15. Please circle the words you feel best describe your attitude towards the use of smartphones in medical education.

  Brilliant	Complicated	Essential	Expensive	Helpful
  Distracting	Simple	Unnecessary	Innovative	Terrible

• 16. Do you have any further comments?

  .......................................................................................