Suliman Shireen, Akbar Raza, Yousaf Zohaib, Ghazouani Hafedh, Al-Mohanadi Dabia, Al-Mohammed Ahmed, Alkhal Abdullatif
Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Department of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar.
Adv Med Educ Pract. 2023 Mar 16;14:245-255. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S395501. eCollection 2023.
The exponential use of handheld electronic devices (HEDs) among healthcare providers has shown the potential to enhance clinical workflows and improve patient care. However, the challenges and risks of carrying these devices during ward rounds and their impact on postgraduate trainees' (PGTs') training in general and more specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic need to be explored.
A cross-sectional mixed-methods online survey was conducted to evaluate the perceptions of trainees and faculty at Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International accredited residency and fellowships programs in Qatar on the use of HEDs on clinical workflow, trainees' education, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. One hundred and fifty-eight participants were enrolled in the study (87 postgraduate trainees and 71 faculty). Exploratory data analysis and descriptive statistics were performed using STATA version 12 and thematic analysis of 301 qualitative responses to the survey open-ended questions using Atlas. ti qualitative software, version 9.4.0.
Almost all PGTs, 83 (95.4%), and faculty 43 (62.3%) use HEDs during ward rounds. Accessibility of patient information by PGTs 73 (94.8%) and faculty 46 (84.4%) and work efficiency were the main perceived benefits. Hindering communication between team members, disruption of interaction with patients, increased risk of infection and breach of patient confidentiality were among the challenges associated with their use. Carrying devices reduced the frequency of hand hygiene practices and physical examinations of patients by trainees. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in the use of HEDs by both faculty [38(64%)] and PGTs [42(60%)].
HEDs' use is valued by both faculty and PGTs in enhancing workflow, trainees' education, patient experience, and patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduate medical education leaders should adopt measures to monitor their use during ward rounds as they can negatively impact trainees' education, reduce interaction with patients, increase the risk of infection, and breach patient confidentiality.
医疗保健提供者对手持电子设备（HED）的大量使用已显示出增强临床工作流程和改善患者护理的潜力。然而，在查房期间携带这些设备所面临的挑战和风险，以及它们对研究生学员（PGT）总体培训的影响，尤其是在新冠疫情期间的影响，需要进行探讨。
开展了一项横断面混合方法在线调查，以评估卡塔尔国际研究生医学教育认证委员会认可的住院医师和研究员项目中的学员和教员对HED在临床工作流程、学员教育以及新冠疫情影响方面的使用看法。158名参与者纳入了研究（87名研究生学员和71名教员）。使用STATA 12版本进行探索性数据分析和描述性统计，并使用Atlas.ti定性软件9.4.0版本对调查开放式问题的301条定性回复进行主题分析。
几乎所有PGT（83名，95.4%）和教员（43名，62.3%）在查房期间使用HED。PGT（73名，94.8%）和教员（46名，84.4%）获取患者信息的便利性以及工作效率是主要的感知益处。与使用HED相关的挑战包括妨碍团队成员之间的沟通、干扰与患者的互动、增加感染风险以及违反患者保密规定。携带设备减少了学员进行手部卫生操作和对患者进行体格检查的频率。新冠疫情导致教员[38名（64%）]和PGT[42名（60%）]使用HED的情况减少。
在新冠疫情期间，教员和PGT都重视HED在增强工作流程、学员教育、患者体验和患者护理方面的作用。毕业后医学教育领导者应采取措施监测查房期间HED的使用情况，因为它们可能对学员教育产生负面影响、减少与患者的互动、增加感染风险并违反患者保密规定。
