SynthesisJournal of general internal medicine2006
Use of handheld computers in medical education. A systematic review.
Synthesis in Journal of general internal medicine, 2006. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 45 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
45 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Mobile Digital Education for Health Professions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the Digital Health Education Collaboration.Journal of medical Internet research · 2019Pooled it
- The effectiveness of mobile-health technology-based health behaviour change or disease management interventions for health care consumers: a systematic review.PLoS medicine · 2013Pooled it
- The effectiveness of mobile-health technologies to improve health care service delivery processes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS medicine · 2013Pooled it
- A systematic review of healthcare applications for smartphones.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2012Pooled it
- The impact of mobile handheld technology on hospital physicians' work practices and patient care: a systematic review.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIAPooled it
- Conventional vs. tablet computer-based patient education following lung transplantation--a randomized controlled trial.PloS one · 2014Trial
- Medical student case presentation performance and perception when using mobile learning technology in the emergency department.Medical education online · 2011Trial
- Mobile Learning in Medical Education: Quasi-Experimental Realist Evaluation of Usage, Context, and Examination Performance in a Curricular Setting.JMIR medical education · 2026Article
- Paradigm Shift of Health Professions Education Through Mobile Devices: A Literature Review of Reviews.Medical science educator · 2025Review
- A novel smartphone application for the tracking of procedural numbers and trainee experience in gastrointestinal endoscopy.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2023Article
- A Pilot Study on the Feasibility of Developing and Implementing a Mobile App for the Acquisition of Clinical Knowledge and Competencies by Medical Students Transitioning from Preclinical to Clinical Years.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Treatment Realities of Headache Disorders in Rural Germany by the Example of the Region of Western Pomerania.Brain sciences · 2021Article
- Perception and Usage of Point of Care Devices: A Cross-sectional Study Targeting Residents and Trainers in Oman.Oman medical journal · 2021Article
- Impact of electronic and blended learning programs for manual perineal support on incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries: a prospective interventional study.BMC medical education · 2018Article
- Is innovative workforce planning software the solution to NHS staffing and cost crisis? An exploration of the locum industry.BMC health services research · 2018Article
- The "e-Generation": The Technological Usage and Experiences of Medical Students from a Developing Country.International journal of telemedicine and applications · 2017Article
- Residents' use of mobile technologies: three challenges for graduate medical education.BMJ simulation & technology enhanced learning · 2017Article
- Evolution of technology in teaching: Blackboard and beyond in Medical Education.Nepal journal of epidemiology · 2016Review
- Using Tablet Computers to Increase Patient Engagement With Electronic Personal Health Records: Protocol For a Prospective, Randomized Interventional Study.JMIR research protocols · 2016Article
- A balancing act: a phenomenological exploration of medical students' experiences of using mobile devices in the clinical setting.BMJ open · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundOver the past decade, handheld computers (or personal digital assistants [PDAs]) have become a popular tool among medical trainees and physicians. Few comprehensive reviews of PDA use in medicine have been published.
objectiveWe systematically reviewed the literature to (1) describe medical trainees' use of PDAs for education or patient care, (2) catalog popular software applications, and (3) evaluate the impact of PDA use on patient care. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (1993 to 2004), medical education-related conference proceedings, and hand search of article bibliographies. REVIEW
methodsWe identified articles and abstracts that described the use of PDAs in medical education by trainees or educators. Reports presenting a qualitative or quantitative evaluation were included.
resultsSixty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. Approximately 60% to 70% of medical students and residents use PDAs for educational purposes or patient care. Satisfaction was generally high and correlated with the level of handheld computer experience. Most of the studies included described PDA use for patient tracking and documentation. By contrast, trainees rated medical textbooks, medication references, and medical calculators as the most useful applications. Only 1 randomized trial with educational outcomes was found, demonstrating improved learning and application of evidence-based medicine with use of PDA-based decision support software. No articles reported the impact of PDA use on patient outcomes.
conclusionMost medical trainees find handhelds useful in their medical education and patient care. Further studies are needed to evaluate how PDAs impact learning and clinical outcomes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.