title: Smartphones and Patient Care: Exploring the Use of Text-Based Messaging for Patient-Related Communication.
abstract: Background Text messaging (texting) has become a routine medium of communication in society. However, its use among clinicians has not been fully characterized. We explored general surgery residents' practices and views on texting for patient-related communication. Methods An email survey was distributed to all general surgery residents at a large Canadian medical school. Results Overall, 46 (57%) of those surveyed responded. All used texting for patient-related communication. Eleven percent of residents did not have a password on their cell phone and 89% did not have encrypted phones. Texting was the most common way (41%) by which residents communicated routine patient-related information with staff physicians. Most (85%) residents agreed that texting enhances patient care. The majority (66%) did not know if their hospital had a policy on texting and were unaware of legislation surrounding texting in patient care (89%). Conclusions Most general surgery residents use texting for communication of routine patient-related care issues. However, they acknowledge concerns regarding the security of this medium.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kayssi
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Devon
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Rossos
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Tulin.cil@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Tulin D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Cil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D005791:Patient Care; D011786:Quality Control; D000068997:Smartphone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: communication; general surgery; surgical education; texting