Utilization of Smartphone Applications by Anesthesia Providers

Abstract

Health care-related apps provide valuable facts and have added a new dimension to knowledge sharing. The purpose of this study is to understand the pattern of utilization of mobile apps specifically created for anesthesia providers. Smartphone app stores were searched, and a survey was sent to 416 anesthesia providers at 136 anesthesiology residency programs querying specific facets of application use. Among respondents, 11.4% never used, 12.4% used less than once per month, 6.0% used once per month, 12.1% used 2-3 times per month, 13.6% used once per week, 21% used 2-3 times per week, and 23.5% used daily. Dosage/pharmaceutical apps were rated the highest as most useful. 24.6% of the participants would pay less than $2.00, 25.1% would pay $5.00, 30.3% would pay $5–$10.00, 9.6% would pay $10–$25.00, 5.1% would pay $25–$50.00, and 5.1% would pay more than $50.00 if an app saves 5–10 minutes per day or 30 minutes/week. The use of mobile phone apps is not limited to reiterating information from textbooks but provides opportunities to further the ever-changing field of anesthesiology. Our survey illustrates the convenience of apps for health care professionals. Providers must exercise caution when selecting apps to ensure best evidence-based medicine.

Acceptance of mHealth among health professionals: a case study on anesthesia practitioners

“…In general, these survey results agree with the findings of Green et al on the American anesthesiologists population, where apps enjoy a significant degree of confidence and are believed to have a potential use on all phases of perioperative care [3]. Peripherals also enjoy a high confidence on potential use, rating 47.9% [95%CI: 42.7-53.…”

“…In line with the study of Green et al, dosage apps were chosen by the majority as the most useful [3]. Digital books and perioperative apps followed.…”

“…Their high processing capacity entails a rather useful leverage for healthcare in general, a sector where data is abundant and its processing relevant for clinical decision-making [1,2]. These advantageous features have been quickly assimilated by anesthesiologists, and dedicated anesthesia applications for various perioperative purposes have been continuously sprouting [3]. Medical device manufacturers have been similarly leveraging on this versatility in order to commercialize smartphone plug-in devices (also known as smartphone peripherals) that can be used for diagnostic purposes.…”

“…Despite the high mobile applications output, formal surveying of the views of anesthesia providers on these applications is scarce [3,5]. Green et al have conducted one of the most complete, although non-representative, studies on the pattern of utilization of smartphone applications by anesthesiologists in the USA [3].…”

Acceptance of mHealth among Health Professionals: A Case Study on Anesthesia Practitioners

“…Another curious pattern observed on the surveyees' answers was the fact that although 57.0% In line with the study of Green et al, dosage apps were chosen by the majority as the most useful [3].…”