title: Medical student appraisal: searching on smartphones.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rapidly growing industry for mobile medical applications provides numerous smartphone resources designed for healthcare professionals. However, not all applications are equally useful in addressing the questions of early medical trainees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three popular, free, mobile healthcare applications were evaluated along with a Google(TM) web search on both Apple(TM) and Android(TM) devices. Six medical students at a large academic hospital evaluated each application for a one-week period while on various clinical rotations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Google(TM) was the most frequently used search method and presented multimedia resources but was inefficient for obtaining clinical management information. Epocrates(TM) Pill ID feature was praised for its clinical utility. Medscape(TM) had the highest satisfaction of search and excelled through interactive educational features. Micromedex(TM) offered both FDA and off-label dosing for drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Google(TM) was the preferred search method for questions related to basic disease processes and multimedia resources, but was inadequate for clinical management. Caution should also be exercised when using Google(TM) in front of patients. Medscape(TM) was the most appealing application due to a broad scope of content and educational features relevant to medical trainees. Students should also be cognizant of how mobile technology may be perceived by their evaluators to avoid false impressions.
authors: Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Khalifian
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Markman
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Sampognaro
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Mitchell
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Weeks
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Dattilo
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods; D020407:Internet; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods*; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000592:standards*; D013337:Students, Medical
keywords: Application; electronics; mobile health; smartphone
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