Residents’ Smartphone use During The Conduct of Anesthesia: The Incidence and Impact on Anesthesia-Related Complications
Kasana Raksamani MD*, Busara Sirivanasandha MD*, Pichaya Waitayawinyu MD*, Akarin Nimmannit MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : The aim of this study was to determine the rate of smartphone use by residents during the conduct of anesthesia,
and their attitude towards smartphone use in clinical settings.
Material and Method: The study consisted of two phases. The first, a disguised observation phase, used operating room
nurses to record residents’ use of smartphones every 15 to 30 minutes during anesthesia. Anesthesia-related complications
were documented at a postoperative visit. The second phase comprised a survey of residents’ attitudes to smartphone use and
the clinical consequences of doing so while administering anesthesia.
Results : Smartphones were used during 89 of the 250 anesthetics observed (35.6%). There was no relationship between the
use of a smartphone and anesthesia-related complications. Fifty-three of 72 anesthesia residents responded to the question-
naire (73.6%). All owned a smartphone and all admitted to using a smartphone while administering an anesthetic. Most used
their smartphone to access the Internet (96.2%, n = 51), including social networks (81.1%, n = 43). The majority felt positive
towards smartphone use (94.3%, n = 50), particularly their educational value. A minority reported that smartphones
distracted from patient care or impaired their interactions with colleagues.
Conclusion : The rate of smartphone use among anesthesia residents in the operating room is high. Residents’ awareness of
the potential for distraction by smartphones during the conduct of anesthesia is low, and should be highlighted as part of their
clinical clerkship.
Keywords : Anesthesia conduction, Self-awareness, Cell phones, Handheld computers, Smartphone
