BMJ  2004;328 (15 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7449.0-a

Handheld computers may improve patients' care

Doctors believe handheld computers will improve patients' safety and quality of care, and that they will be regularly used in the future. Scheck and colleagues (p 1162) interviewed 54 doctors who did or did not use handheld computers, and found that their use varied widely in clinical practice. Those who used handheld computers felt that they could make safer decisions and improve productivity and interactions with patients. Physical constraints, unfamiliarity with modern technology, and personal preferences prevented their use by some. Doctors were also concerned with the security of patients' information, over-reliance on technology, and the reliability of devices. Training and support from the doctors' institutions could improve acceptance of handheld computers and be advantageous for both institutions and doctors.

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

Ann Scheck McAlearney, Sharon B Schweikhart, and Mitchell A Medow
BMJ 2004 328: 1162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]