Smartphone use habits of anesthesia providers during anesthetized patient care: a survey from Turkey.

ABSTRACT: Smartphones are used in many areas of anesthesia practice. However, recent editorial articles have expressed concerns about smartphone uses in the operating room for non-medical purposes. We performed a survey to learn about the smartphone use habits and views of Turkish anesthesia providers.A questionnaire consisting of 14 questions about smartphone use habits during anesthesia care was sent anesthesia providers.In November-December 2015, a total of 955 participants answered our survey with 93.7 % of respondents responding that they used smartphones during the anesthetized patient care. Phone calls (65.4 %), messaging (46.4 %), social media (35.3 %), and surfing the internet (33.7 %) were the most common purposes. However, 96.7 % of respondents indicated that smartphones were either never or seldom used during critical stages of anesthesia. Most respondents (87.3 %) stated that they were never distracted because of smartphone use; however, 41 % had witnessed their collagues in such a situation at least once.According to the results of the survey, smartphones are used in the operating room often for non-medical purposes. Distraction remains a concern but evidence-based data on whether restrictions to smartphone use are required are not yet available.

SUBMITTER: Pınar HU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5054594 | biostudies-other | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other