title: Introducing handheld computing into a residency program: preliminary results from qualitative and quantitative inquiry.
abstract: Although published reports describe specific handheld computer applications in medical training, we know very little yet about how, and how well, handheld computing fits into the spectrum of information resources available for patient care and physician training. This paper reports preliminary quantitative and qualitative results from an evaluation study designed to track changes in computer usage patterns and computer-related attitudes before and after introduction of handheld computing. Pre-implementation differences between residents  and faculty s usage patterns are interpreted in terms of a "work role" construct. We hypothesize that over time residents and faculty will adopt, adapt, or abandon handheld computing according to how, and how well, this technology supports their successful completion of work role-related tasks. This hypothesis will be tested in the second phase of this pre- and post-implementation study.
authors.affiliation: UPMC St. Margaret Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Gadd
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003625:Data Collection; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008838:Microcomputers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010414:Pennsylvania