This document discusses the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) in evidence-based medicine (EBM). It notes that PDAs have the potential to save time and money while reducing medical errors. It examines different PDA operating systems, devices, and applications that can be used for clinical drug references, electronic prescriptions, medical calculations, and accessing evidence-based resources like PubMed and clinical practice guidelines. Specific PDA tools are highlighted, including ePocratesRx for drug information, MD on Tap for accessing PubMed, and calculators for diagnostic test statistics and numbers needed to treat. The document encourages readers to try out different PDA applications and resources.

1. PDA for EBM

2. PDAs

3. Potential time saverPotential money saverPotential for reduced errors

4. Garritty C, El Emam K. Who’s Using PDAs? Estimates of PDA Use by Health Care Providers: A Systematic Review of Surveys. J Med Internet Res 2006;8(2):e7

5. The S-shaped diffusion of technology curve

6. BMC Med Educ. 2008; 8: 39.

7. Palm®webOS™

10. PDA OSs

11. Which Device is better?Determine which applications you will needUse different devices if possible before purchasingProminence of a particular device in your environmentMemoryWireless access availabilityYour “Keyboard style”

12. PDA vs. Tablet PCLottridgeet al.BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2007 7:22

13. Clinical ApplicationsClinical drug referencesElectronic prescription toolsClinical textbooksPatient trackingMedical CalculatorsEvidence based reference

15. PICO Maker free Palm OS-based applicationcreate and store queries in the PICO format for later reference.http://www.library.ualberta.ca/pdazone/pico/

17. Drug Lookup Tools – ePocratesRxFree Palm or Pocket PC compatible3,000 brand & generic drugsDrug interaction checkerRegular updates available

18. ePocrates Rx, cont’dSearch by DrugSearch by Class

19. ePocrates Rx, cont’dDrug InteractionsWarning

20. ePocrates Rx, cont’dInsert your own annotationsLookup options

22. PubMedMD on Tap software:Software installedPalm and Pocket PChttp://mdot.nlm.nih.gov/proj/mdot/mdot.phpPubMed® for handhelds Web site Use PDA web browser to access Pubmedhttp://pubmedhh.nlm.nih.gov/nlm/

23. PubMed® for handhelds Web sitehttp://pubmedhh.nlm.nih.gov/nlm/pubmed/index.html

24. PICO searchhttp://pubmedhh.nlm.nih.gov/nlm/pico/piconew.html

25. MD on Tap softwareMEDLINE search limitsHistory of previous queriesSave citations to a PDA text fileEvidence Based Medicine clustersAuto Spell CheckOptional PICO Search TabThe MDoT project stopped developing client software for handheld devices in 2007

29. EE+

30. EE+

31. EE+

33. www.unboundmedicine.com

34. American College of PhysiciansCalorie Savings Food ListNormal Lab Values from MKSAP 15Vaccine Specific InformationUSPSTF Preventive Services GuidelinesNCEP ATP III GuidelinesADA GuidelinesDrugs Used in the Treatment of HIV InfectionTable of Normal Physiological Changes During PregnancyPharmacotherapies for Acute Major DepressionDifferential Diagnosis Between Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitishttp://www.acponline.org/running_practice/technology/mobile_computing/

35. StatRefSkyscape

36. National Guideline Clearinghousehttp://www.guideline.gov/Palm users:each guideline can be downloaded as Palm documentPocket PC usersdirectly access the entire site using PDA browserdownload all NGC guideline summaries as MS Word documents

39. Diagnostic Calculators: MedCalc(http://www.med-ia.ch/medcalc/tele.html)Free; includes many common calculators

40. MedCalc, cont’d

41. Evidence-Based Resources: EBM Calculatorcalculates statistics for RCTs as well as for diagnostic, prospective & case-control studiesfreeware program for Palm & Pocket PC

42. Resourceswww.medicalwizards.com/www.pdamd.comwww.pdacortex.comwww.skyscape.com

43. So...PDA can be very helpful, very useful…

44. Just be patient…

45. Now…Go to: pubmedhh.nlm.nih.gov/Use scenarios in your folderDo a PICO searchSearch MEDLINE/PubMed

46. Next…Go to:http://ktclearinghouse.ca/cebm/toolboxclick on Stats Calculatordo the calculation for the diagnostic studydo the calculation online ordownload the palm or pocket PC version

47. click on "LR tables"scroll down to the tablesfind the LR+ for ST elevation in MI

48. click on "NNT tables"scroll down to the tablesclick on your specialty if there, or chose any specialtyif you have palm PDA, scroll down to " Palm Download" and download the software