title: PDA power at the bedside.
abstract: George Washington University's Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library was investigating adding PDA resources to the collection when a medical education grant was received. Funds were used for a pilot project to compare PDA use by third-year medical students (MSIII), fourth-year medical students (MSIV), second-year physician assistant (PAII) students, and residents in the clinical setting. The PDA Committee evaluated various titles by the following criteria: both Palm and PocketPC operating systems compatibility, ease of use, depth of information, product cost, and a wide target audience. Griffith's 5 Minute Clinical Consult by Skyscape was selected. Library registration was required to receive the software and PDA downloading instructions. A short, Web-based questionnaire was developed to evaluate the product's use in the clinical setting. A low response rate of 74 questionnaires (23% of participants) was received and analyzed in March 2004. As additional funding becomes available, PDA software will be seriously considered as additions to the collection.
authors.affiliation: Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library, The George Washington University, DC 20037, USA. mlbphw@gwumc.edu
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Billingsley
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
mesh_terms: D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004219:District of Columbia; D004501:Education, Medical; D017050:Episode of Care; D006801:Humans; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires