Student Use of Handheld Computers in Clinical Settings: A Survey

Purpose: This article describes usage patterns of personal digital assistants (PDAs) by students completing the clinical phase of training at the MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program. Methods: Seventy-one students from MEDEX were surveyed to assess PDA usage patterns and their perceptions of the impact of this technology on clinical and educational performance. Results: Fifty-two students (73%) responded, with 35 (67%) of these reporting using PDAs. All PDA owners used their PDAs for clinical work; 20 (57%) also used them for educational purposes. Students averaged 8.0 clinical uses and 3.9 educational uses per day. Students mentioned some concerns but generally expressed satisfaction with PDA clinical applications. Overall, students who used these devices reported that PDAs improved the quality of their clinical performance, facilitated access to information, and that patients perceived their use positively. Discussion: As a result of these findings, the program has decided to implement a policy requiring incoming students to purchase and use a PDA during training.