Mobile Technology Usage by Orthopaedic Surgeons and Trainees in Australia

Background: The use of smartphones and portable tablet devices is increasingly more common and widespread in Australia. Usage amongst medical professionals is increasing in a number of fields. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the current and future usage of these devices by orthopaedic surgeons and orthopaedic trainees, in addition to understanding the perceived impact on patient care.

Methods: A survey examining mobile technology usage was administered via email to a number of orthopaedic surgeons and trainees across Australia. Data regarding the respondents’ownership and usage of mobile technology, perceived future usage, and impact on patient care and productivity was collected and analysed.

Results: 97.7% of respondents currently use a smartphone, and 58.1% use a tablet device. The most common work use was for professional contact (78%), viewing journals,online educational resources (68.3%), and viewing radiology (46.3%). Respondents showed a significant interest in the ability to view x-rays and computed tomography (CT) in the future. Overall, surgeons indicated that mobile technology improves patient care and productivity, and they believe they will use it more often in the future.

Conclusion: Mobile technology usage is highly prevalent amongst orthopaedic surgeons and trainees in Australia. These technologies may be used to facilitate improved quality and timely provision of care.

Introduction

Mobile technology usage, particularly the use of smartphones and tablets, has increased greatly amongst the general public in Australia in recent years^{1Petrovic D. Smartphone Usage in Australia. Petrovic D. Smartphone Usage in Australia. cited 2012 Mar. 20.,2Moses A. Australia's white hot smartphone revolution. smh.com.au. 2011 -cited 2012 Mar. 12. Available from: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/australias-white-hot-smartphone-revolution-20110908-1jz3k.html}.Smartphones have a number of features including speed, simplistic interface, integrated communications, which make them a valid alternative to a tradition desktop computer^{3Franko OI. Smartphone apps for orthopaedic surgeons. Clinical orthopaedics and related research. 2011 Jul.;469(7):2042–2048. t}. Tablet devices like the iPad (Apple Computer, Cupertino California) have been described as portable medical libraries^{4Berger E. The iPad: gadget or medical godsend? Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Mar. 1;56(1):A21–2.}.

Smartphone usage amongst doctors, and surgical trainees has previously been investigated^{5Franko OI, Tirrell TF. Smartphone App Use Among Medical Providers in ACGME Training Programs. J Med Syst. 2011 Nov. 4.} , but the specific usage by orthopaedic surgeons in Australia has not been fully investigated.

These mobile devices provide several different functions for users. The most common of these are the ability to send and receive text, multimedia or picture messages; send and receive emails; browse the Internet and use specific applications (apps). These functions together or separately provide surgeons with additional tools to aid in clinical practice.

Some clinical applications of smartphone usage in orthopaedic surgery have previously been examined^{6Archbold H, Guha A, Shyamsundar S. The use of multi-media messaging in the referral of musculoskeletal limb injuries to a tertiary trauma unit using: a 1-month evaluation. Injury. 2005. ,7Elkaim M, Rogier A, Langlois J, Thevenin-Lemoine C, Abelin-Genevois K, Vialle R. Teleconsultation using multimedia messaging service for management plan in pediatric orthopaedics: a pilot study. J Pediatr Orthop. 2010 Mar.;30(3):296–300.} , and shown to have potential for timely and cost effective management of orthopaedic patients.

We sought to further delineate the usage patterns and preferences of mobile technology use amongst the orthopaedic profession in Australia.

Materials and Methods

Data collection for this study was performed via a survey of orthopaedic surgeons and registrars in Australia. An online, digital survey was developed to question participants regarding their level of training, smartphone and tablet ownership, current and future intended usage, and perceived impact on productivity and patient care. A free response section was included to allow respondents to add further comment to their experiences.

The survey was designed to be brief, and was planned in line with previously published recommendations to improve response rate amongst orthopaedic surgeons^{8Sprague S, Quigley L, Bhandari M. Survey design in orthopaedic surgery: getting surgeons to respond. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2009 May;91 Suppl 3:27–34.} .

The survey was distributed by email, with an explanation provided regarding the purpose of the survey. In addition respondents were encouraged to forward the survey on to other orthopaedic surgeons and registrars. Completion of the survey acted as consent. All responses were anonymous, and data was kept securely.

Some basic demographic information surrounding age and level of training was collected. The respondents answered a number of questions regarding their current and possible future implementation of these devices, and the perceived impact on patient care and productivity.

Responses were collated and entered into a Microsoft Excel (2010) spreadsheet.  Descriptive statistical analyses were then performed to ascertain percentage responses to each question.

Results

A total of 92 total responses were received, comprised 22 orthopaedic registrars, 4 orthopaedic fellows and 66 orthopaedic consultant surgeons.   The majority of recipients were between the ages of 28 and 40 (Table 1).

 

 

Over 97% of respondents owned a smartphone, and 56% owned a portable tablet device. Of these, all but two used their devices regularly for work.

The main uses for mobile technology in clinical orthopaedic practice are for professional contact,i.e. with other doctors and surgeons (79%), and for accessing journal articles and other educational resources online (65.1%).

When the respondents were questioned on which specific features of mobile technology they would like to use in the future, the ability to view x-rays and other radiology imaging on their device was most desired (86%). A majority also intended or would like to view journals or online resources (65%), or use their device for practice management (63%) and the viewing and entering of medical records (63%).

Those answering the survey were asked about their use of text or multimedia messaging services (MMS) and email. Use of these modalities for professional contact (93% text/MMS; 86% email) was popular, as was sending and receiving clinical photographs and x-rays / radiology images (76%; 76%).

When questioned about how various facets of mobile technology impact on productivity, a large number of respondents indicated these technologies increased productivity (Table 2).  Most respondents identified viewing patient investigations and accessing patient records as the most productive purpose for mobile phone use in orthopaedic practice.

 

 

The majority of respondents believe that the use of smartphones has a beneficial impact on patient care (Table3).  Results from Table 3 highlighted that most respondents believed accessing investigations was associated with a higher standard of patient care.