BackgroundAdvancements in technology have always had major impacts in medicine. The smartphone is one of the most ubiquitous and dynamic trends in communication, in which one’s mobile phone can also be used for communicating via email, performing Internet searches, and using specific applications. The smartphone is one of the fastest growing sectors in the technology industry, and its impact in medicine has already been significant.ObjectiveTo provide a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the role of the smartphone in medicine by highlighting the ways in which it can enhance continuing medical education, patient care, and communication. We also examine the evidence base for this technology.MethodsWe conducted a review of all published uses of the smartphone that could be applicable to the field of medicine and medical education with the exclusion of only surgical-related uses.ResultsIn the 60 studies that were identified, we found many uses for the smartphone in medicine; however, we also found that very few high-quality studies exist to help us understand how best to use this technology.ConclusionsWhile the smartphone’s role in medicine and education appears promising and exciting, more high-quality studies are needed to better understand the role it will have in this field. We recommend popular smartphone applications for physicians that are lacking in evidence and discuss future studies to support their use.
In today's hospital and clinic environment, the obstacles to bedside teaching for both faculty and trainees are considerable. As electronic health record systems become increasingly prevalent, trainees are spending more time performing patient care tasks from computer workstations, limiting opportunities to learn at the bedside. Physical examination skills rarely are emphasized, and low confidence levels, especially in junior faculty, pose additional barriers to teaching the bedside examination.
Mobile fitness trackers are increasingly used by patients as a means to become more involved in their own self-care; however, these devices measure disparate outcomes that may have equivocal relevance to true health status. It is vital for physicians to interpret both the quality and accuracy of the information that these trackers provide, and it is important to delineate which role, if any, these devices may serve in promoting quality patient care in the future. Potential benefits of mobile fitness trackers include the ability to motivate patients toward a healthier lifestyle, to develop a community of like-minded individuals seeking to improve their health, as well as to create an environment of sustainability and accountability for long-term promotion of health maintenance. However, limitations include the fact that mobile fitness trackers are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, that the employed metrics are not necessarily the best surrogates for true health status, and that the accuracy of measured endpoints has not yet been proven. As mobile fitness trackers both continue to rise in popularity and become increasingly sophisticated, physicians must be equipped to interpret and use this technology to better serve patients within an ever-changing, more technology-reliant health care system.
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