Mobile Technology Use in the Clinical Environment: Patient Viewpoints
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Use of Mobile Technology in the Clinical Environment: Patient Viewpoints
IRAS ID
183121
Contact name
Priya Rajyaguru
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, days
Research summary
In recent years the advance of mobile technology and the devices upon which such global communication is possible has exploded. This has had significant implications in the healthcare sector, not least in terms of software and library support; but also in relation to smartphone or tablet usage by NHS staff and university students alike for work or learning purposes.
In spite of this very little research has considered the views of patients who are naturally exposed to such use. Indeed we know that some medical students and doctors use certain smartphone models and applications more frequently in the workplace but we do not know how patients perceive them.
This is especially important as technology continues to grow, and as medical schools increasingly give students mobile devices as an aid to learning. Of relevance is the fact that medical students spend the majority of their time in the clinical environment and are actively encouraged to do so. Additionally, previous studies have highlighted the preferences of doctors towards using smartphones as a way to support patient care through online resources such as e-textbooks, risk assessment tools and drug formularies.
Those studies that have looked at doctor viewpoints however suggest some concern and speculation amongst the profession about potential damage to the doctor-patient relationship.
Thus this study will seek the viewpoints of patients in relation to the subject, which have not been considered before. It is of the uttermost importance that patient views are collected enabling the creation of a body of evidence that will better inform medical schools and institutions in developing future policies and guidelines promoting doctor- and student-working relationships with patients.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0340
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion