Abstract

MEJIA, Christian R et al. Use of smartphones and applications for self-training and telemedicine among Peruvian physicians. Rev. cuba. inf. cienc. salud [online]. 2016, vol.27, n.3, pp. 286-297. ISSN 2307-2113.

A multicenter descriptive prospective study was conducted to determine the frequency of the use of smartphones and applications for self-training and telemedicine. Data were collected with a questionnaire about the use of information technology for clinical practice and self-training among Peruvian physicians. Measurements were taken of the use of smartphones, applications and telemedicine. Of the 1 013 physicians who stated they used some sort of smartphone, 65 % (661) were men and mean age was 35 years (range 22-74 years); 48.5 % (460) used the smartphone for self-training; Medscape was the resource most commonly used for this purpose (13 %); 98 % had applications on their smartphone; 30 % of those who taught used applications for their teaching; the applications most commonly used were those providing access to the web and/or self-training searches (31 %) and to electronic mail (30 %). With respect to the use of telemedicine, 73 % had sent an image or video of a patient to a colleague; 29 % had participated in a videoconference with another physician to discuss a case, and 30 % (269) had used their smartphone for communication with a patient (apart from calls). The vast majority of the physicians surveyed owned a smartphone, but not all used telemedicine or applications habitually as part of their clinical practice or for self-training. Wider use of these resources could help improve healthcare in Peru.

Keywords : self-training; information technology; telephone; physicians; Peru.

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