title: Evidence-based policy? The use of mobile phones in hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence-based policies have become increasingly accepted in clinical practice. However, policies on many of the non-clinical activities that take place in health care facilities may be less frequently evidence based.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a review of literature on safety of mobile phones in hospitals and survey of practice in selected European countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When first evidence on the dangers of electronic interference associated with mobile phones appeared in the 1990s, hospitals in many countries introduced complete bans on mobile phones. Yet a review of recent evidence suggests that there is no significant risk from using mobile phones in hospitals as long as they are more than a metre away from sensitive equipment, whereas the risk to the most modern equipment is even less. With the technological evolution of mobile phones, the residual risk of interference appears to be minimal and controllable. Although some countries are reluctant to relax regulation, others now limit bans to areas in which sensitive equipment is used and some discourage the use of mobile phones on the grounds of noise exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With new technology on the doorstep, the potential benefits and risks associated with mobile phones should be examined explicitly in the light of the evidence.
authors.affiliation: European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ettelt
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: Odd Arild
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.forename: Ingvar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karlberg
authors.forename: Niek
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klazinga
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teperi
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone / Q000592:standards*; D003625:Data Collection; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012306:Risk; D012449:Safety