Smartphone Use among Healthcare Providers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study
Journal Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY - Year 2018, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: Distraction due to smartphone use in healthcare settings is a threat to patient safety. There are growing concerns regarding its negative impacts on health providers’ performance and image. Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore smartphone usage among healthcare providers in Saudi public hospitals with a focus on potential distractions and risks to patient safety. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study using an electronic version of a validated instrument conducted in four hospitals of Al Madinah Region, Saudi Arabia. The study sample included nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers working in main medical departments. Descriptive and bivariate analysis using SPSS (V.20) was applied. Results: The response rate was acceptable at 86% (1290). A total of 56.20% of respondents used their smartphone during working hours. Respondents who received e-mails, sent e-mails, chatted, or watched video clips 20 times or less in the previous working day were 19.40%, 14.10%, 25%, and 13.70%, respectively. A total of 43.80% of respondents agreed that smartphone use distracted them from patient care, while 42.20% believed that these distractions harmed patients. The belief that smartphone use could harm patients was significantly associated with age (P = 0.001), nationality (P = 0.000), length of experience (P = 0.000), and current position (P = 0.032). Conclusions: The patterns of smartphone utilization identified in this study pose a significant challenge to patient safety. Initiatives to reduce the negative consequences of smartphone use on patients’ outcomes and health professionals’ image are needed. Such efforts should not underestimate the role of smartphones in facilitating access of health professionals to updated medical knowledge and international clinical guidelines.
Authors and Affiliations
Khalid A. Aljohani
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP478700
- DOI -
- Views 112
- Downloads 0
Comparison of Pregabalin and Tramadol for Post-operative Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Laminectomy
Introduction: Prevention and treatment of post-operative pain continue to be a major challenge in post-operative care. Opioid analgesics, with their well-known side effects, continue to represent a cornerstone in post-op...
Assessment of Nutritional Status of Primary School Children through Anthropometric in Rural Practice Area of IGIMS, Patna: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Nutritional status is the condition of health of an individual, influenced by nutrient intake and its utilization in the body. Nutrition of primary school children is of paramount importance because the found...
Outcome of Pregnancy Complicated by Obstetric Cholestasis: A Prospective Study
Introduction: Obstetric cholestasis (OC), also known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), is a hepatic disease unique to pregnancy which presents with intense generalized pruritus without any skin rash. Object...
Comparative Study of Preservation versus Elective Division of Ilioinguinal Nerve in Open Mesh Repair of Inguinal Hernia
Introduction: Chronic postherniorrhaphy groin pain is defined as pain lasting for more than 3 months after surgery. It is one of the most important complications occurring after inguinal hernia repair and it occurs with...
A Comprehensive Study on Post Traumatic Temporal Contusion in Adults
Introduction: The brain undergoes various types of strain during injury. The strain may be in the form of compression, tensile strain or shear strain. More than one type of mechanics and more than one type of strain are...