The Potential Use of Handheld Computers for Continuing Medical Education
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Date
2009-04-15T19:14:11Z
Authors
Cameron, Stewart
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Abstract
This study investigated the potential for providing CME on a handheld computer to family
physicians. National guidelines on four topics were summarized and converted to a format that
could be read on the most popular type of handheld computer. Seventeen physicians were
randomly allocated modules and a case study on two of the four topics. Before and after
receiving the modules, they completed surveys of their knowledge on all four topics and
provided estimates of their confidence in managing patients with those conditions. There were
trends towards greater improvement in knowledge scores on the topics that had been reviewed,
with a statistically significant improvement in knowledge scores on two modules. While there
are increasing numbers of content providers employing this technology to deliver CME, this
study provides only modest evidence to support its effectiveness.
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Keywords
Medical education , Pocket computers , Medicine , Study and teaching , Computer-assisted instruction , Education