Tablets help physicians keep up with medical research

(HealthDay)—Most physicians find keeping up with the latest research to be challenging, but the use of tablets and smartphones may help, according to a report published by Wolters Kluwer Health.

Researchers from Wolters Kluwer Health conducted a survey by Ipsos of more than 300 practicing physicians in the fields of primary care, family medicine, and internal medicine to examine the top issues and challenges facing physicians.

According to the report, 83 percent of physicians reported keeping up with the latest medical research as being very or somewhat challenging. A total of 79 and 61 percent of physicians reported using smartphones and tablets, respectively, in their daily practice. Fifty-five percent reported using both. Smartphones were mainly used for accessing drug information (72 percent) but were also used for communication with staff (44 percent) and patients (33 percent), and for accessing medical research (43 percent) and evidence-based clinical reference tools (42 percent). The primary use of tablets was to access medical research (63 percent), and they were also used for access to drug information (55 percent), evidence-based clinical reference tools (50 percent), and medical records (43 percent). The top information sources used for diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing patient care included professional journals (84 percent use frequently or occasionally), general browsers (such as Google and Yahoo; 80 percent), and colleagues (80 percent).

"Mobile apps are being used by 24 percent of physicians, making these the top digital/social media channel used for work purpose," according to the report.