title: Measuring Participants' Attitudes Toward Mobile Device Conference Applications in Continuing Medical Education: Validation of an Instrument.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mobile device applications (apps) may enhance live CME courses. We aimed to (1) validate a measure of participant attitudes toward using a conference app and (2) determine associations between participant characteristics and attitudes toward CME apps with conference app usage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional validation study of participants at the Mayo Clinic Selected Topics in Internal Medicine Course. A conference app was developed that included presentation slides, note-taking features, search functions, social networking with other attendees, and access to presenter information. The CME app attitudes survey instrument (CMEAPP-10) was designed to determine participant attitudes toward conference apps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 602 participants, 498 (82.7%) returned surveys. Factor analysis revealed a two-dimensional model for CMEAPP-10 scores (Cronbach α, 0.97). Mean (SD) CMEAPP-10 scores (maximum possible score of five) were higher for women than for men (4.06 [0.91] versus 3.85 [0.92]; P = .04). CMEAPP-10 scores (mean [SD]) were significantly associated (P = .02) with previous app usage as follows: less than once per month, 3.73 (1.05); monthly, 3.41 (1.16); weekly, 4.03 (0.69); and daily or more, 4.06 (0.89). Scores were unrelated to participant age, specialty, practice characteristics, or previous app use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first validated measure of attitudes toward CME apps among course participants. App usage was higher among younger participants who had previously used educational or professional apps. Additionally, attitudes were more favorable among women and those who had previously used apps. These findings have important implications regarding efforts to engage participants with portable and accessible technology.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Wittich: Clinical Practice Chair and Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Wang: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, CA. Dr. Fiala: Resident in Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Mauck: Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Mandrekar: Professor of Biostatistics and Neurology, Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Ratelle: Instructor in Medicine, Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Beckman: Education Chair and Professor of Medicine and Medical Education, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wittich
authors.forename: Amy T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Justin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fiala
authors.forename: Karen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Mauck
authors.forename: Jayawant N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Mandrekar
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ratelle
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Beckman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000592:standards*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires