Mobile Medical Education (MoMEd): What is the impact of putting digital mobile resources in the hands of medical students?

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Mobile Medical Education (MoMEd) What is the
impact of putting digital mobile resources in the
hands of medical students?

• Tim Vincent, Learning Technologist
• Jil Fairclough, Medical School Librarian

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Brighton Sussex Medical School
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In 2005, BSMS became the first UK medical school
to introduce the widespread use of mobile devices
to its students

• Offered to all Year 3, 4, and 5 students (approx.
  350 students)
• Loaned PDA and software for free

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Providing mobile hardware and software
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Resources on the Dr Companion card

• British National Formulary
• Chemical Laboratory References
• Classification of Surgical Operations
  Procedures
• Clinical Evidence
• Cochrane Abstracts
• DSM IV
• ICD 10
• NICE Compilation Guidance
• Netter Atlas of Human Anatomy
• Evidence Based Medicine
• Patient Organizations

• Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary
• Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine
• Oxford Handbook of Clinical Lab Investigation
• Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine
• Oxford Handbook of Clinical Surgery
• Oxford Handbook of Practical Drug Therapy
• Oxford Handbook of General Practice
• Oxford Handbook of Medical Sciences

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Supporting set-up, roll-out, maintenance, and
training
Dir. of Undergraduate Studies IT
Manager Librarian Learning Technologist
Divisional assistant IT Technicians x2
Everyone!
Clinical Research Fellow
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Useful mobile technology in the clinical setting

• The CCU consultant asks you
• What evidence is there for the use of ACE
  inhibitors in secondary prevention post MI?
• And what dose is the SHO writing up?

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Why mobile technology in medical training?
BSMS, as a new medical school, wants students to
become familiar with mobile technology and take
advantage of the technology to explore innovative
approaches to teaching and learning.
The future of education lies in the adoption of
technology, such as mobile and wireless, that
connects people, unifies the education process
and enhances learning.
Dr John D. Halamka, Associate Dean, Harvard
Medical School, 2002
Prof Jon Cohen, Dean of BSMS, 2003
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GMCs Tomorrows Doctors (2009) expects doctors
to be able to use information effectively in a
medical context

• Access information sources and use the
  information in relation to patient care, health
  promotion, advice and information to patients,
  and research and education
• Make effective use of computers and other
  information systems, including storing and
  retrieving information.

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What is the impact of putting digital mobile
resources in the hands of medical students?
How much do medical student really use mobile
devices to access learning resources?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of
mobile devices in the clinical setting
What is the impact on students learning?
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Data collection
Usage stats on server
Focus groups
Questionnaires
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Results Amount of use

• Questionnaire

• Tracking

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Results Most popular resource

• Questionnaire

• Tracking

Choose 3 most popular resources Votes
BNF 91
OH Clinical Medicine 89
Medical dictionary 22
Netters anatomy 19
Most popular resource No. of uses
OH Clinical Medicine 3,385
BNF 3,137
Medical dictionary 1,867
OH General Practice 791
OH Clinical Surgery 884
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Analysis Three major themes identified
Mobile Medical Education (MoMEd) - how mobile
information resources contribute to learning for
undergraduate clinical students a mixed methods
study. Bethany S Davies, Jethin Rafique, Tim R
Vincent, Jil Fairclough, Mark H Packer, Richard
Vincent and Inam Haq. BMC Medical Education 2012,
121 doi10.1186/1472-6920-12-1 http//www.biomedc
entral.com/1472-6920/12/1/abstract
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Theme 1 Access to knowledge

• Mobility
• Immediacy

• Speed of access
• Two devices

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Theme 1 Access to knowledge

• Mobility
• Immediacy

• Speed of access
• Two devices

The only thing is, you dont have that many
pockets. I would have my wallet in one pocket, my
phone in another. I found it quite hard to carry
the PDA around with me all the time. The
whole two devices thing is my major gripe.
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Theme 2 Consolidation of knowledge

• Quick reference information
• Repetition
• Better use of wasted time

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Theme 2 Consolidation of knowledge

• Quick reference information
• Repetition
• Better use of wasted time

• It has enhanced my knowledge by reinforcing
  key points at point-of-need. If you want to know
  then-and-there, you can find it then-and-there.
  Its just the memory jog you need to reinforce
  the point a bit more. It doesnt mean youre
  relying on the PDA it just helps to reinforce
  and consolidate the knowledge a bit better.

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Theme 2 Consolidation of knowledge

• Quick reference information
• Repetition
• Better use of wasted time

• The more repetition I get, the more Im able to
  look at something quickly when I need to - the
  more its likely to stick. Because you can look
  and say oh ok, thats what it is again
• Initially, you may look at it three times and
  then after that you will become more confident in
  saying yes I know this now

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Theme 2 Consolidation of knowledge

• Quick reference information
• Repetition
• Better use of wasted time

• One of the drivers for me of using it might be
  more general is just my dislike of wasted time
  particularly during the day.
• I agree. Actually, thats one of the reasons I
  have started to use it a lot more. There and
  then when there isnt anything to do you can make
  use of time.

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Theme 3 Change

• Attitude, behaviour, approach
• Resistance to change
• Establishing change

Next section
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Theme 3 Change

• Attitude, behaviour, approach
• Resistance to change
• Establishing change

• if you remember to take it with you
• I think its about adopting a different
  mentality.
• Im worried that the nurses or patients will
  think I am texting or emailing

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Theme 3 Change

• Attitude, behaviour, approach
• Resistance to change
• Establishing change

• What changed your mind? Finding I did use the
  PDA and it did come in handy several times. It
  just makes life a bit easier.
• ...I have definitely got used to having that
  type of reference at my fingertips. I would
  definitely look into ways of continuing that.

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The future of MoMEd
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The emergence of smartphones
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What do the students want?
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iPhone pilot

• 4 month trial (Nov-Feb)
• 48 students with own iOS device
• Novel logging to track usage
• Contract to recording usage and research
  participation

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Changing the model to information over technology
Offered to all students in years 3-5 with their
own device
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Is this the right approach?
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