PDA usage and training: targeting curriculum for residents and faculty.
OBJECTIVE
Utilization of personal digital assistants (PDAs) in residency education is common, but information about their use and how residents are trained to use them is limited. Better understanding of resident and faculty PDA use and training is needed.


METHODS
We used a cross-sectional survey of 598 residents and faculty from the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) Family Medicine Residency Network regarding PDA usage and training.


RESULTS
Use of PDAs is common among residents (94%) and faculty (79%). Ninety-six percent of faculty and residents report stable or increasing frequency of use over time. The common barriers to PDA use relate to lack of time, knowledge, and formal education. Approximately half of PDA users (52%) have received some formal training; however, the majority of users report being self-taught. Faculty and residents prefer either small-group or one-on-one settings with hands-on, self-directed, interactive formats for PDA training. Large-group settings in lecture, written, or computer program formats were considered less helpful or desirable.


CONCLUSIONS
PDAs have become a commonly used clinical tool. Lack of time and adequate training present a barrier to optimal application of PDAs in family medicine residency education.
Morris
Carl G
CG
Family Medicine Residency Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104-2499, USA. carlm@fammed.washington.edu
Church
Lili
L
Vincent
Chris
C
Rao
Ashwin
A
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003200:Computer User Training; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015205:Northwestern United States; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires