Perception of Patients on Usage of Smartphones by Health Care Professionals during Clinic Hours

Background of the study:
Smartphones medically related applications are quickly becoming one of the main tools for accessing clinical information among health care professionals.
Aim of Study:
This study assessed the perception of patients on usage of smartphones by health care professionals during clinic hours.
Methodology:
The study recruited 185 patients. Data on demographic characteristics and perception of patients on the use of smartphones for medical information were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were summarized using a descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of Chi square. Alpha level was set at 0.005
Results:
76 Males, 109 Females participated in this study. 67.6% (125) own a smartphones. 34.6% (64) have seen health care professionals using smartphones during clinic hours, 28.1% (18) had their health care providers explain to them reasons for using smartphone. 34.1% (63) agreed it was unprofessional for health care provider to use smartphone during clinic, 33.5% (62) disagreed, 32.4% (60) were undecided. No association observed between respondents’ age (χ2= 12.00, p= 0.606), educational qualification (χ2= 8.501, p= 0.075) and responses to the statement that use of smartphones by health care professional was unprofessional.
Conclusion:
Although one third of the respondents agreed that usage of smartphones by healthcare professionals in the clinic while attending to patients was unprofessional however, usage of smartphone for health related information by health care professionals during clinic hours should be with caution to avoid losing the confidence repose in them by their patients.