The use of smartphone medical applications by doctors in South Africa
Date
2016
Authors
Hassim, Taheera
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The number of people using smartphones is on the rise since its first
introduction. The popularity of medical applications that are downloadable onto
smartphones are increasing. Applications have become very popular amongst
consumers or patients as part of wellness, preventative or treatment protocols;
however, the role of medical applications in mainstream healthcare provision in
South Africa is still questionable.
Earlier studies on the use of mobile medical applications were conducted
internationally and not in the South African setting. There are no studies in
Africa on the actual impact that mobile medical applications make on medical
management. On an international level, there’s a widely-held view that the use
of these healthcare applications by doctors has a positive impact on patient
care.
The problem this research will address is whether there is a difference between
the use of smartphone medical applications between interns and post internship
doctors (specialists and general practitioners). A comparative study between
interns and doctors that are beyond internship has been performed.
Two data samples have been used to address each of the components of
doctor’s behaviour and the impact of mobile applications on healthcare. Data
from doctor’s responses were extracted, cleaned and analysed using
parametric and non-parametric data analysis techniques.
Results of the study showed that there were only few differences in the use of
medical applications between both groups. Factors such as communication with
patients using smartphone applications, recommendations of its use to
colleagues, choice of medical applications, preference for paid applications and
use of Wi-Fi revealed significant differences between the two groups. Another
noteworthy finding included that both groups of doctors used medical apps but
interns were more reliant on applications for medical management of patients.
The findings of this study help application providers realise the value of
developing more reliable free medical applications and justify investment in
developing further mobile application technologies.
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Keywords
Medical telematics, Wireless communication systems in medical care, Communication in medicine -- South Africa.