title: Smartphone use habits of anesthesia providers during anesthetized patient care: a survey from Turkey.
abstract: Smartphones are used in many areas of anesthesia practice. However, recent editorial articles have expressed concerns about smartphone uses in the operating room for non-medical purposes. We performed a survey to learn about the smartphone use habits and views of Turkish anesthesia providers.
  
  
  
  A questionnaire consisting of 14 questions about smartphone use habits during anesthesia care was sent anesthesia providers.
  
  
  
  In November-December 2015, a total of 955 participants answered our survey with 93.7 % of respondents responding that they used smartphones during the anesthetized patient care. Phone calls (65.4 %), messaging (46.4 %), social media (35.3 %), and surfing the internet (33.7 %) were the most common purposes. However, 96.7 % of respondents indicated that smartphones were either never or seldom used during critical stages of anesthesia. Most respondents (87.3 %) stated that they were never distracted because of smartphone use; however, 41 % had witnessed their collagues in such a situation at least once.
  
  
  
  According to the results of the survey, smartphones are used in the operating room often for non-medical purposes. Distraction remains a concern but evidence-based data on whether restrictions to smartphone use are required are not yet available.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology Department, Konya Research Center, Baskent University, Hocacihan Mah. Saray Cad. No: 1, Selçuklu, Konya, 42080, Turkey. huseyinpinar2002@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hüseyin Ulaş
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Pınar
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology Department, Konya Research Center, Baskent University, Hocacihan Mah. Saray Cad. No: 1, Selçuklu, Konya, 42080, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology Department, Konya Research Center, Baskent University, Hocacihan Mah. Saray Cad. No: 1, Selçuklu, Konya, 42080, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rafi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology Department, Konya Research Center, Baskent University, Hocacihan Mah. Saray Cad. No: 1, Selçuklu, Konya, 42080, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ümmü Mine
authors.initials: ÜM
authors.lastname: Konuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000592:standards*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000592:standards*; D000072077:Anesthetists / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001288:Attention; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms; D000068997:Smartphone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anesthesia; Anesthesia providers; Smartphone