Background: Research addressing how physicians utilize apps is growing, however, there is little data to show apps improve patient outcomes.

Aims: Develop an iPhone/iPad app to educate physicians on management of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Secondary goals include assessing app utilization and patient outcomes pre/post implementation.

Methods: A web-based app STAB-IT™ (S. aureus bacteremia is terrible) was developed and provides: hospital specific epidemiology, microbiology, diagnosis, management, antibiotics, patient education and quiz. Learning outcome was measured by a pre/post quiz. App use was prospectively monitored using Google analytics and outcomes were retrospectively collected. Patients were eligible if admitted between September 2010 to May 2011 n =222 (i.e. pre-STAB-IT™) and September 2011 to May 2012 n=191 (i.e. post STAB-IT™) with S. aureus bacteremia. Data included age, blood cultures, vancomycin levels, negative blood cultures prior to discharge, infectious diseases consultation, time to consultation, length of stay, mortality, and hospital re-admissions.

Results: Physician knowledge of managing patients with S. aureus bacteremia significantly improved after learning how to navigate STAB-IT™ (50.2% vs. 86.6% p=0.0001). Mean utilization was 50 visitors / month, 217 (61.5%) new visitors and 136 (38.5%) returning visitors. No significant differences were seen in clinical outcomes measured in the post group.

Conclusion: Learning how to navigate a web-based app STAB-IT™ improved physicians knowledge of managing patients with S. aureus bacteremia. Larger studies over a longer time period are needed to further define the relationship between app use and patient outcomes for this common clinical condition.

Background: Successful treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is critical to reduce the impact of tuberculosis (TB). The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of adopting the WelTel text-messaging intervention, proven to be effective in improving HIV treatment adherence, for use in LTBI care.

Aims: (1) Determine prevalence of mobile phone ownership, text-message use, and patient attitudes towards receiving text messages from the clinic. (2) Determine the technological feasibility of the WelTel intervention, and (3) patient and healthcare provider acceptability of the service.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive survey of patients attending a provincial TB clinic and a pilot study in which patients initiating treatment for LTBI received the intervention for 12 weeks.

Results: Clinic survey: Of 82 participants who completed the survey between September and December 2011, 68 owned a mobile phone and 58 used text messaging weekly. Participants were receptive to receiving text-message communication from the clinic (n = 80). Pilot intervention study: Of 16 patients who received the intervention, 14 completed the study. Using software to deliver the intervention was feasible. The greatest participant-perceived benefit was that it enabled them to report side-effects quickly (n = 6); the greatest participant-perceived barrier was cost (n = 3).

Conclusion: The majority of patients in this study population had the means to communicate with their healthcare providers via text-messaging and were receptive to doing so. The intervention was well-received by participants and the healthcare provider. A randomized controlled trial is underway to determine the intervention’s effectiveness to increase LTBI treatment adherence.

Background Physician use of the iPad as a clinical and educational tool has increased since its release in 2010. Few studies have assessed resident perception of the iPad as an educational and daily clinical tool.

Aims This study evaluates residents’ perceptions of the iPad’s clinical and educational utility, and examines differences of perceived value between medicine-based and surgical-based residents.

Methods During the academic year 2011–2012, all residents (n = 119) utilized a 16GB iPad. Opinions on clinical utility and educational value were assessed by survey at year’s end. Responses were dichotomized as often /always vs. never/rarely/sometimes for comparison analysis via Chi-square tests.

Results One-hundred-and-two (86%) residents participated. The iPad received low marks for daily clinical utility (14.7%) and efficiency in documentation (7.8%). It was most valued for sourcing articles outside the hospital (57.8%), and as a research tool (52%). Medical and surgical residents’ opinions differed regarding perceived value for educational utility (41.7% vs. 6.7%, p ≤ 0.001), viewing results and use as an Evidence-based Medicine resource (38.9% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.037), recommendation to a colleague (58.3% vs. 36.7%, p = 0.053), and facilitation of patient care (45.8% vs. 23.3%, p = 0.045).

Conclusion Residents in this study did not attribute high value to the iPad as a clinical rounding or educational tool. Additionally significant differences existed between medical and surgical residents’ perceived value of the iPad’s utility. Institutions should consider these differences and address connectivity and support issues before implementing iPad programs across all disciplines.