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Objective The purpose of this study was to establish the use of mobile devices by learners at a selected medical school. Distribution of mobile devices was an inaugural initiative implemented by our college. Design A mixed methodology design using a questionnaire comprising both open-ended and close-ended questions was analysed from 179 (60 male; 119 female) second year medical students registered for the Anatomy course. Open-ended questions were analysed using a thematic approach by identifying emergent ideas and concepts. Close-ended questions were analysed using SPSS V.21.0. Setting and participants Second year medical students at a medical school in South Africa. Results Three main themes emerged, namely, (a) mobile device engagement, (b) advantages and (c) challenges affecting use of mobile devices. A majority of learners accessed their tablets for lecture notes; more females were inclined to access these devices than males. Challenges experienced included poor wifi connectivity on and off the university campus; some students were not keen on the idea of mobile devices and preferred traditional methods of teaching. Conclusions Mobile devices have been adopted by learners at our university. Uses of technology outlined are related to Eraut9s intentions of informal learning. Integrating tablets into classes had a positive effect on student access to course material.

Welcome to the third annual Swedish theme issue of BJSM ! The Swedish Society of Exercise and Sports Medicine (SFAIM) is proud of the ongoing collaboration with BJSM , and we are happy to continue to offer our members the journal online, as part of their national membership benefits. Today, new discoveries have many ways of finding a wide audience including through e-journals, the web, Twitter and Facebook. This maximises dissemination, which can only be a good thing. Yet in this age of new technology, a print journal such as BJSM may have more to offer than ever before. We highlight a few advantages of the old ‘paper journal’. 1. The paper journal does not need a power supply. You might say that the internet and computer can work on batteries. But, consider a nice holiday, out sunbathing in the archipelago, far from any electrical source. The batteries never run out in paper journals! 2. In addition, in the sun, on said island, without protection for your screen, the paper journal offers superior viewing; something that is always a problem with any kind of screen… 3. In case of wet weather, protecting iPads and computers is a …

Wearable technology holds great promise in revolutionising healthcare delivery. The benefits can also be seen in medical education and delivering healthcare in remote places. We report the use of Google Glass technology as a teaching tool in broadcasting a procedure onto a mobile phone as a viewer, replacing expensive and often cumbersome existing equipment.

The US Food and Drug Administration will leave most mobile medical applications unregulated while it focuses its oversight on apps that present the greatest risk of harming patients should they not work as intended, the agency said on Monday 23 September. “Some mobile apps carry minimal risks to consumers or patients, but others can carry significant risks if they do not operate correctly,” said Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a …

In the first clinic after Christmas we encountered a child who was complaining of tiredness and a sore shoulder, …

To examine doctors' perspectives about their experiences with handheld computers in clinical practice.Qualitative study of eight focus groups consisting of doctors with diverse training and practice patterns.Six practice settings across the United States and two additional focus group sessions held at a national meeting of general internists.54 doctors who did or did not use handheld computers.Doctors who used handheld computers in clinical practice seemed generally satisfied with them and reported diverse patterns of use. Users perceived that the devices helped them increase productivity and improve patient care. Barriers to use concerned the device itself and personal and perceptual constraints, with perceptual factors such as comfort with technology, preference for paper, and the impression that the devices are not easy to use somewhat difficult to overcome. Participants suggested that organisations can help promote handheld computers by providing advice on purchase, usage, training, and user support. Participants expressed concern about reliability and security of the device but were particularly concerned about dependency on the device and over-reliance as a substitute for clinical thinking.Doctors expect handheld computers to become more useful, and most seem interested in leveraging (getting the most value from) their use. Key opportunities with handheld computers included their use as a stepping stone to build doctors' comfort with other information technology and ehealth initiatives and providing point of care support that helps improve patient care.