title: Emergency medicine clerkship encounter and procedure logging using handheld computers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tracking medical student clinical encounters is now an accreditation requirement of medical schools. The use of handheld computers for electronic logging is emerging as a strategy to achieve this.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the technical feasibility and student satisfaction of a novel electronic logging and feedback program using handheld computers in the emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a survey study of fourth-year medical student satisfaction with the use of their handheld computers for electronic logging of patient encounters and procedures. The authors also included an analysis of this technology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six students participated in this pilot project, logging a total of 2,930 encounters. Students used the logs an average of 7.6 shifts per rotation, logging an average of 8.3 patients per shift. Twenty-nine students (63%) responded to the survey. Students generally found it easy to complete each encounter (69%) and easy to synchronize their handheld computer with the central server (83%). However, half the students (49%) never viewed the feedback Web site and most (79%) never reviewed their logs with their preceptors. Overall, only 17% found the logging program beneficial as a learning tool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electronic logging by medical students during their emergency medicine clerkship has many potential benefits as a method to document clinical encounters and procedures performed. However, this study demonstrated poor compliance and dissatisfaction with the process. In order for electronic logging using handheld computers to be a beneficial educational tool for both learners and educators, obstacles to effective implementation need to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. rick.penciner@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Penciner
authors.forename: Sanam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000379:methods*; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009864:Ontario; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity