Addressing Patient Concerns of Resident Mobile Application Use in Clinical Settings

Mobile application use has become more prevalent as a new generation of resident physicians and patients turn to immediately accessible sources of clinical information. Perry and colleagues¹ recently described their study of obstetrics and gynecology residents between 2015 and 2016, where residents responded positively to the use of mobile applications (apps) in clinical care. The residents agreed that mobile technology plays an important clinical role and allows physicians to be more efficient during clinical care.

However, we have noted below 3 situations where residents like those in the study by Perry and colleagues may need to provide additional information to patients in order to ease their concerns about the use of mobile health apps.

Show and Tell

When residents are looking at their telephones to access information from mobile apps, patients may wonder if they are performing clinical care, or are being distracted by nonclinical information. If a resident is using a pregnancy wheel, it is important to first and foremost establish rapport in the room before accessing the app. When a resident walks into the room and intends to use a mobile device, he or she should be mindful of establishing eye contact and rapport prior to accessing the device. Then, the resident should show the patient the telephone screen to explain what he or she is viewing. This show and tell allays any concerns of distractions, and it engages the resident and patient in an educational moment with frequent eye contact and shared focus.

Disclosure of Privacy Measures

Many electronic health record systems have software that is accessible on telephones and tablets. When residents access lab or radiology data at the bedside or in clinic, patients may be concerned about their confidential information being so readily accessible. Convenience needs to be weighed against protection of health data. We recommend having the resident explain to the patient the security features of the mobile app (such as that it is only accessible via a virtual private network, is password protected, etc).

Mindfulness of Health Care Disparities

If a resident recommends a mobile app and the patient does not own a mobile device equipped for applications, it may exacerbate underlying socioeconomic rifts and assumptions between physicians with ready access to technology, and patients who may not be able to afford such devices. Residents should feel empowered to recommend medical mobile apps to patients who feel comfortable with this technology, but they need to be mindful that circumstances enabling physicians to have and use this mobile technology may not hold true for patients struggling financially.

Mobile health apps present new ways for physicians and patients to engage in education and clinical care with the touch of a button. We optimally harness their benefits if we stay conscious of patient perception and provide additional information to assuage any concerns with the use of this technology. Future initiatives may focus on training residents on best practices for using technology with patients in a way that enhances, rather than detracts from, their interaction with patients.