Self-reported use of handheld computers: a survey of Nova Scotia pharmacists.

Abstract: Introduction: With an ever-increasing array of pharmaceutical and biomedical products and literature, health professionals including pharmacists struggle to obtain, evaluate, and apply relevant information. Handheld computers provide pharmacists with mobile access to evidence-informed medi...

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Publicado en:Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (JCHLA) Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 4 - 12
Autores principales: Mccallum, Alicia, Sketris, Ingrid, Rodrigues, Glenn, Yung, David K., Hill-Taylor, Barbara, Doucette, Steve
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Canadian Health Libraries Association Apr2012
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Self-reported use of handheld computers: a survey of Nova Scotia pharmacists.
      aug:
        au:
          Mccallum, Alicia
          Sketris, Ingrid
          Rodrigues, Glenn
          Yung, David K.
          Hill-Taylor, Barbara
          Doucette, Steve
        affil: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
      sug:
        subj:
          Pharmacists Nova Scotia
          Computers, Hand-Held Utilization
          Nova Scotia
          Human
          Multivariate Statistics
          Descriptive Statistics
          Surveys
          Odds Ratio
          Confidence Intervals
          Data Analysis Software
          Female
          Male
          Rural Areas
          Urban Areas
          T-Tests
          Chi Square Test
          Resource Databases, Health
          Funding Source
          Female
          Male
      ab: Abstract: Introduction: With an ever-increasing array of pharmaceutical and biomedical products and literature, health professionals including pharmacists struggle to obtain, evaluate, and apply relevant information. Handheld computers provide pharmacists with mobile access to evidence-informed medical information, decision support tools, and the ability to monitor therapeutic outcomes at the point of care. There is limited literature on the usage of this technology by Canadian pharmacists. The objective of this survey was to determine the scope and nature of handheld computer use by Nova Scotia pharmacists. Method: In 2008, Nova Scotia pharmacists were contacted with a written survey. Descriptive statistics were used to compare users and non-users. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine demographic and pharmacy practice variables that might be associated with pharmacists' use of handheld computers. Results: The survey was returned by 296 pharmacists (27.7%). Handheld computers were reported to be used by 51% of respondents.Those respondents who have been in practice longer were less likely to adopt handheld computer use (adjusted OR = 0.97,95% CI = 0.94--0.99, p = 0.01). Barriers and facilitators to usage were explored. More than two-thirds of pharmacists who had not yet used handheld computers perceived a future value for these devices within their practice. Discussion:Pharmacists are adopting the use of handheld computers. With enhanced clinical practice opportunities for pharmacists including independent prescribing, these tools may offer needed functionality. Further work is required to understand the value of handheld computers as information resources, which may improve the effectiveness and efficiency of patient care.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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