Ownership, knowledge, patient care cost and use of mobile cell phones by family physician resident doctors in Nigeria

Abstract

Mobile phones are common and have robust features which have promoted their use in training and health service delivery in developed countries. Health indices in Nigeria are poor and any opportunity to improve efficiency in health care delivery with regards to mobile phone technology should be explored. The objectives of this study were to determine Family Medicine Resident doctors' ownership, type of mobile cellphone; knowledge of cellphones functions and their use in patient care. The study also determined mobile cellphone patient care related cost and challenges with cellphone use in patient care. A survey of 250 Family Medicine residents in training centres in Nigeria was carried out to ascertain ownership, type, knowledge, use of mobile phone in patient care and mobile phone patient related care cost. Of the two hundred and fifty (250) self-administered questionnaires distributed with 164 returned, only 155 found suitable were analyzed to ascertain proportions of these variables and their implications for postgraduate residency training. All the 155 (100%) Family Medicine residency doctors had mobile cell phone with 96.8 % of them having smartphones. About 95% of doctors had high self-reported knowledge of Cell phone functions and experience in the use of mobile cell phone in selfeducation and provision of patient related care. However, 76% of doctors provided Cellphone related patient care to less than 10% of their patients monthly. Resident doctors spent on average N5,000-6,000 (USD$ 20-24) on mobile cell phone use monthly. All residents had mobile phones with 96.8% of them having smartphones. About 95% of Residents provide cellphone related patient care. Family Medicine training institutions in Nigeria should leverage on residents' cellphones use to advance both training and patient care. Keywords: Resident Doctors' Mobile phone related education and Patient care