title: Use of mobile learning by resident physicians in Botswana.
abstract: With the growth of mobile health in recent years, learning through the use of mobile devices (mobile learning [mLearning]) has gained recognition as a potential method for increasing healthcare providers' access to medical information and resources in resource-limited settings. In partnership with the University of Botswana School of Medicine (SOM), we have been exploring the role of smartphone-based mLearning with resident (physicians in specialty training) education. The SOM, which admitted its first class of medical students and residents in 2009, is committed to providing high-level on-site educational resources for resident physicians, even when practicing in remote locations. Seven residents were trained to use an Android-based myTouch 3G smartphone equipped with data-enabled subscriber identity module (SIM) cards and built-in camera. Phones contained locally loaded point-of-care and drug information applications, a telemedicine application that allows for the submission of cases to local mentors, and e-mail/Web access. Surveys were administered at 4 weeks and 8 weeks following distribution of phones. We found that smartphones loaded with point-of-care tools are effectively utilized by resident physicians in resource-limited settings, both for accessing point-of-care medical information at the bedside and engaging in self-directed learning at home.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Aileen Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Sankalpo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghose
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Littman-Quinn
authors.forename: Rachel B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Anolik
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyer
authors.forename: Loeto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazhani
authors.forename: Anne K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kovarik
mesh_terms: D001902:Botswana; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007858:Learning; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*