Professional monitoring and critical incident reporting using personal digital assistants.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the practicality of using personal digital assistants (PDAs) for the collection of logbook data, procedural performance data and critical incident reports in anaesthetic trainees.


METHODS
Pilot study.


METHODS
Two tertiary referral centres (in Victoria and New Zealand) and a large district hospital in Queensland.


METHODS
Six accredited Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) registrars and their ANZCA training supervisors.


METHODS
Registrars and supervisors underwent initial training for one hour, and supervisors were provided with ongoing support.


METHODS
Reliable use of the program, average time for data entry and number of procedures logged.


RESULTS
ANZCA trainees reliably enter data into PDAs. The data can be transferred to a central database, where they can be remotely analysed before results are fed back to trainees.


CONCLUSIONS
This technology can be used to monitor professional performance in ANZCA trainees.
Bent
Paul D
PD
Department of Anaesthesia, Pain Management and Peri-operative Medicine, Barwon Health, The Geelong Hospital, Ryrie Street, Geelong, VIC 3218, Australia. paulbent@bigpond.net.au
Bolsin
Stephen N
SN
Creati
Bernie J
BJ
Patrick
Andrew J
AJ
Colson
Mark E
ME
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects; D002983:Clinical Competence; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods; D012984:Software