Who's using PDAs? Estimates of PDA use by health care providers: a systematic review of surveys.
BACKGROUND
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) find many uses in health care. Knowing rates of collective PDA use among health care providers is an important guiding step to further understanding those health care contexts that are most suited to PDA use and whether PDAs provide improved health outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to estimate current and future PDA use among health care providers and to discuss possible implications of that use on choice of technology in clinical practice and research.


METHODS
This study was a systematic review of PDA usage surveys. Surveys were identified as part of an ongoing systematic review on the use of handheld devices. Reports from eight databases covering both biomedical sciences and engineering (1993-2006) were screened against distinct eligibility criteria. Data from included surveys were extracted and verified in a standardized way and were assessed descriptively.


RESULTS
We identified 23 relevant surveys, 15 of which were derived from peer-reviewed journals. This cohort of surveys was published between 2000 and 2005. Overall, since 1999, there is clear evidence of an increasing trend in PDA use. The current overall adoption rate for individual professional use ranges between 45% and 85%, indicating high but somewhat variable adoption, primarily among physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
Younger physicians and residents and those working in large and hospital-based practices are more likely to use a PDA. The adoption rate is now at its highest rate of increase according to a commonly accepted diffusion of innovations model. A common problem with the evaluation of information technology is that use frequently precedes research. This is the case here, in which PDA adoption rates are already high and projections are for rapid growth in the short term. In general, it appears that professional PDA use in health care settings involves more administrative and organizational tasks than those related to patient care, perhaps signaling where the growth in adoption is most likely to occur. We conclude that physicians are likely accustomed to using a PDA, and, therefore, technology expertise will probably not be a barrier to implementing PDA applications. However, there is an urgent need to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of specific tasks using handheld technology to inform those developing and those using PDA applications.
Garritty
Chantelle
C
Chalmers Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada. cgarritty@cheo.on.ca
El Emam
Khaled
K
D000367:Age Factors; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013038:Specialization; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data