A survey of 480 UK health care professionals found that most use mobile phones for work purposes like communicating with colleagues and accessing information, though few have work-related reimbursement for phones. While some employers allow phone use, others do not. Most respondents said they would be more productive with a work phone. The study concludes that mobile technology could improve patient care if barriers to clinical communication were reduced.

1. A survey of mobile phone usage FIGURE 1
Communicating with colleagues, accessing information
FIGURE 2
There was similar demand for mobile phone use amongst
by health care professionals and using applications were the principal reasons given
for using a mobile phone at work
those who do not currently carry a mobile phone at work if
one was provided for them to use
in the UK
During a typical shift, what do you use your phone for? During a typical shift, what would you use a phone for?
Please tick all that apply Please tick all that apply
ABSTRACT
Communicating with colleagues Communicating with colleagues
A survey of mobile phone usage by registered health care professionals in the
UK (n=480), demonstrates that a significant percentage use mobile phones Telephone calls Telephone calls
for various work related purposes. Given evidence that mobile technology Comprising Text messages Comprising Text messages
within healthcare can improve patient care, and that better communication
Emails Emails
can save time and money, these results can be used to help support further
expansion, funding and acceptance of mobile phone use within healthcare. Accessing information on the intranet/internet Accessing information on the intranet/internet
Running work related software/applications Running work related software/applications
I. INTRODUCTION Communicating with patients Communicating with patients
Mobile phones have been shown to improve patient care and their use in a clinical Telephone calls Telephone calls
environment is becoming more widely accepted [1]-[2]. Poor communication is a Comprising Text messages Comprising Text messages
significant waste of clinician time and health care resources [3]. Few studies have
quantified the use of mobile phones for communication by health care professionals Emails Emails
(HCPs) in the UK. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
II. METHOD
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
We carried out an online survey inviting HCPs to state both their usage of, and
attitudes to, mobile phones in the work place. Respondents were approached via email Perceived employer attitudes to mobile phone usage by The survey recorded strong support for the use of
and the internet over 6 weeks during August and September 2010. We received 480 employees varies from allowed to not allowed mobile phones at work by health care professionals
complete responses from registered HCPs.
How is mobile phone usage viewed by your employer? "I would be more productive if I had a mobile phone for use at work"
III. RESULTS It's not allowed; 9% 35%
80% of the registered HCPs surveyed carry a mobile phone while at work. Of these,
81% use a mobile phone for communicating with colleagues, 45% for accessing It's allowed; 26% 30%
information on the intranet/internet, and 18% for running work related software/ 29%
28%
applications. However only 10% of HCPs claim mobile phone usage as a work related It's not allowed, but 25% 26%
people still use
expense, and 26% believe their employer does not allow mobile phone usage. Of the them; 22%
20%
remaining 20% who do not carry a mobile phone at work, 92% stated that they would
use one for a work related purpose if provided. Across all registered HCPs surveyed,
15%
only 16% disagreed with the statement: “I would be more productive if I had a mobile
phone for use at work.” 10%
13%
It's allowed, but 5%
IV. CONCLUSION frowned upon; 7% It's allowed, but in
4%
limited
Mobile phone usage by HCPs for work related purposes is significant, despite the circumstances; 36%
0%
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
potential barriers of economics and policy. More should be done to improve clinical
communication using mobile technology in order to improve patient care, raise
employee productivity and maximise economic resources.
ABOUT DEVICES4 CONFLICTS
REFERENCES
We believe better communication means better care. Our mission The authors are affiliated with Devices 4 Limited, a non-profit
[1] Roy G Soto et al., “Communication in critical care environments: mobile telephones is to improve patient care by placing modern technology in the organisation with registered charitable status in England & Wales
improve patient care,” Anesthesia and Analgesia 102, no. 2 (February 2006): 535-541. hands of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. (no. 1135435), who funded the research.
[2] K Fitzpatrick and E Vineski, “The role of cordless phones in improving patient
care,” Physician Assistant (American Academy of Physician Assistants) 17, no. 6 (June Our current focus is to increase the acceptance and affordability
1993): 87-88, 92. of mobile phones for health care professionals.
[3] Ritu Agarwal, Daniel Z Sands, and Jorge Díaz Schneider, “Quantifying the
economic impact of communication inefficiencies in U.S. hospitals,” Journal of You can learn more about us via our website.
Healthcare Management / American College of Healthcare Executives 55, no. 4
(August 2010): 265-281; discussion 281-282. Dr J. Humphreys1, Dr P. Puwanarajah1 and Mr J. Sherwin-Smith1
1Devices 4 Limited, 275 Wandsworth Bridge Road, London, UK
Joanna.Humphreys@devices4.org, Prasanna.Puwanarajah@devices4.org,
James.Sherwin-Smith@devices4.org
http://www.devices4.org

2. OUR PURPOSE:
Bring health care
Better communication professionals together,
means better care to share knowledge,
save money and
improve patient care
Our research has shown that most health care devices4 has been created to solve this problem.
WHAT WE DO devices4 is a non-profit organisation professionals rely on their mobile phones at work to
communicate with colleagues, look up information, and As a non-profit organisation with registered charitable
that aims to improve patient care run useful software. In all but a few cases however, the
cost falls to the employee, not the employer.
status, we bring health care professionals together to
purchase and provide the services they need to share
by placing modern technology in the Most health care professionals purchase their own mobile
knowledge and communicate through more efficient,
coordinated purchasing.
hands of doctors, nurses and other phone through retail channels. By taking this route, they
don’t receive discounts or priority service given their If you are a health care professional, join devices4 today,
professional use and requirements. Access to common and learn what together we can do to make you more
health care professionals infrastructure to aid knowledge sharing and support
wider communication is also difficult or restricted.
productive, save money, and allow you to focus on patient
care, not technology.
OUR MISSION: OUR FOCUS:
Improve patient care Lower cost
and raise productivity, mobile phones
allowing clinicians for health care
to focus on care, purposes
not technology
Communication can be defined as the transfer of As a care provider, you want to have all the We understand that money is tight, whether on a government support via favourable financing terms,
information from one entity to another. Therefore to information you need at your fingertips to treat your personal, local or national level, and therefore carving out direct subsidies and tax efficiencies where available.
improve communication, we need to get the right patient. In a health environment, where data is budget for a new investment of this kind is difficult to
technology to the right people. increasingly detailed and complex, modern technology achieve. We believe a strong argument can be developed Negotiations like this will take time, and the strength of
makes this possible. for ongoing investment in this area as experience and the case we can put forward will be partly a function of
We work with a variety of stakeholders across the evidence accumulates. the support we receive.
public, private and voluntary sectors to fulfill our By providing you with rights tools to support you in
objectives. But one group is our focus: doctors, nurses your work environment, you get more time to spend on In the meantime, we will help make mobile phone We recognise that our success is dependent upon working
and other health care professionals. patients. ownership more affordable for you as an individual, by closely with healthcare professionals - representing your
sourcing better deals for health care professionals from needs, and gaining your trust and support - so please join
manufacturers and network providers. We will also seek us today.
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