PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Computers, Handheld”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Use of a handheld computer by respiratory care practitioners to improve the efficiency of weaning patients from mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a handheld computer containing a unit-specific weaning protocol on the efficiency of weaning patients from mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: A prospective before-after study design with consecutive control and intervention time periods. SETTING: A medical intensive care unit of an urban teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the medical intensive care unit were eligible for study enrollment. INTERVENTIONS: Weaning of mechanical ventilation during the control period was conducted by respiratory care practitioners using a previously published protocol (n = 176). During the intervention period, respiratory care practitioners weaned patients using a handheld computer version of the same protocol (n = 176). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The time for the first spontaneous breathing trial to occur was significantly shorter during the intervention period compared with the control period (49.9 +/- 63.2 hrs vs. 72.5 +/- 86.9 hrs, p=.018). The percentage of patients undergoing a spontaneous breathing trial when first meeting established criteria for a spontaneous breathing trial was significantly greater during the intervention period (89.8% vs. 63.6%, p<.001). Length of stay in the intensive care unit was also significantly shorter for patients during the intervention period (6.2 +/- 7.1 days vs. 7.7 +/- 8.0 days, p=.018). CONCLUSIONS: This experience suggests that respiratory care practitioners employing a weaning protocol programmed on a handheld computer can wean patients from mechanical ventilation more efficiently compared with the use of a paper-based weaning protocol.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Clinical nursing instructors' use of handheld computers for student recordkeeping and evaluation.

I have found the Palm IIIc to be useful in tracking undergraduate student progress in the clinical area. Entrepreneurial thinkers continue to develop new ideas in software, so the possibilities for using these devices will only grow. Future possibilities for handheld computers include built-in Internet connections or providing students with devices to record and analyze their experiences or complete assignments. Many nurses and physicians who have learned to use handheld computers are sure they never want to go back to using paper and pen (Labkoff & O'Mahony, 1997; Wilson & Fulmer, 1998). I will continue to depend on and find new uses for this pocket-sized, yet powerful, device.

Computers, Handheld↗
PubMed2002

The use of handheld computers in clinical trials.

A recently completed, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial is presented in which Palm handheld computers were used as a substitute for normal paper-based patient diaries. In this nasal provocation study, a common antihistamine approved for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis was tested against placebo for evidence of additional properties. In addition to their medical examinations, the 12 study volunteers rated subjective complaints in a diary program on 4 examination days, for a duration of 4.5 hours every 15 minutes at each visit. This resulted in 903 data sets consisting of five questions each, or 4515 data points total. In this study the use of handheld computers resulted in an increase in data quality and shortened the time needed to close the database. Moreover, the benefit of electronic reminders for protocol compliance is clearly demonstrated. Our findings support the results found in the literature we reviewed. For more than 16 years, mobile computers have been supporting the implementation of clinical trials. Our review of 27 articles out of more than 100 clinical trials in which mobile computers have been used elaborates on the advantages and problems of this technology. We give a comprehensive overview of the various technologies as used in different settings, and then discuss the methodology of using mobile devices in comparison to traditional methods, the considerations that need to be made and things to be avoided in order to conduct a successful clinical trial with mobile tools. We conclude that mobile devices are very useful in most cases, especially when design and software validation aspects have been taken into account.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Information at hand: using handheld computers in medicine.

Call them handhelds, palm-tops, or personal digital assistants (PDAs), pocket-sized computers are becoming a common feature on the medical landscape. As the technology improves, more programs become available, and the demands of medical practice heighten, physicians are recognizing the benefits of having information available at the point of care. This article reviews the use of handheld computers in medicine, emphasizing how they might help the practicing physician.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2000

Techniques for identifying the applicability of new information management technologies in the clinical setting: an example focusing on handheld computers.

This article describes techniques and strategies used to judge the potential applicability of new information management technologies in the clinical setting and to develop specific design recommendations for new features and services. We focus on a project carried out to identify the potential uses of handheld computers (i.e., the Palm Pilot or a small WinCE-based device) in the ambulatory practice setting. We found that the potential for a robust handheld computing device to positively affect the outpatient ambulatory clinical setting is enormous, and that the information derived from the exploratory research project is useful in creating specific design recommendations for further development.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed2003

ABase-a tool for the rapid assessment of anthropometric measurements on handheld computers.

Anthropometry is widely recognized as an important method in the evaluation of dysmorphic children. Nevertheless, it has never gained widespread clinical use. We believe that this has mainly practical reasons: appropriate growth charts are not readily available at the bedside or in clinic and taking multiple measurements and plotting them into corresponding growth charts is a time-consuming task. Here we describe a computer program that overcomes both problems: ABase compares entered anthropometric measurements to a database of age- and sex-matched reference values, calculates the centile rank and displays the result either as text or as a digitized growth chart. The program runs on small handheld computers that can easily be carried around in a shirt pocket.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1985

[Studies on a handheld computer system for perinatal care].

The present paper demonstrates a handheld computer system for use in perinatal care. The features of the system are as follows: The gestational age and fetal body weight were determined by analyzing the data from ultrasonography with the high-order regressive equation. The combined use of the linear regressive equation and Ott's equation was more useful in precisely calculating the fetal abdominal circumference. In order to decrease input error, attempts were made to minimize key-operations for data-entry. The use of the screen edition system also made it easier to correct input error. It was concluded that this system was practical and easy to handle, and would be a useful aid in clinical care.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1996

Survey of sociodemographic characteristics of tobacco use among 99,598 individuals in Bombay, India using handheld computers.

OBJECTIVES: To study the diversity and sociodemographic characteristics of tobacco use in Bombay, India. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional, house-to-house survey with face-to-face interviews in the city of Bombay during 1992-94. Data was input directly into a programmed, handheld computer (electronic diary). PARTICIPANTS: Permanent residents of the city of Bombay aged 35 years and older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tobacco use in various smoking and smokeless forms. RESULTS: 99598 individuals were interviewed (60% women, 40% men). Among women, prevalence of tobacco use was high (57.5%) but almost solely in the smokeless form. Among men, 69.3% reported current tobacco use and 23.6% were smokers. The most common smokeless tobacco practice among women was mishri use (44.5% of smokeless users) and among men betel quid with tobacco (27.1%). About half of smokers used bidi and half smoked cigarettes. Chewing areca nut without tobacco was rare (< 0.5% of smokeless users). Educational level was inversely associated with tobacco use of all kinds except cigarette smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of tobacco use varies across India and, in Bombay, is very different from other areas. Using handheld computers to collect data in the field was successful.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Handheld computing: the next technology frontier for school nurses.

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the potential utilization of handheld personal digital assistants for school nurses. Handheld devices and their general uses are described. Clinical programs available through downloading and Web sites with handheld resources are included. Finally, specific handheld computer applications that can be adapted for school nurses are discussed.

Forecasting↗
PubMed2001

Use of handheld computers as bedside information providers.

Access to clinical reference information at the point-of-care is a goal that is difficult to achieve by lack of really portable reference material. Handheld computers have matured to the point where they are powerful enough to be used as clients of a distributed knowledge system serving reference information and decision-aid applications in a highly portable form factor. We describe a pilot project launched at the Geneva University Hospital studying the use of handhelds and associated clinical applications in two internal medicine clinics. Results garnered by this study will help answer the many questions raised by the use of handhelds in medical practice, in term of cost, benefits, risk and change in workflow.

Hospitals, University↗
PubMed2000

A guideline implementation system using handheld computers for office management of asthma: effects on adherence and patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects on the process and outcomes of care brought about by use of a handheld, computer-based system that implements the American Academy of Pediatrics guideline on office management of asthma exacerbations. DESIGN: A before-after trial with randomly selected, office-based Connecticut pediatricians. In both the control and intervention phases, physicians collected data from 10 patient encounters for acute asthma exacerbations. During the intervention phase, the computer provided for structured encounter documentation and offered recommendations based on the guideline of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Patients were contacted by telephone 7 to 14 days after the visit to assess outcomes. RESULTS: Nine study-physicians enrolled 91 patients in the control phase and 74 in the intervention phase. Follow-up information was available for 93% of encounters. Use of the intervention was associated with increased mean frequency/visit of: 1) measurements of peak expiratory flow rate (2.18 vs 1.57) and oxygen saturation (1.12 vs.42), and 2) administration of nebulized beta2-agonists (1.25 vs.71). Visits in the intervention phase lasted longer and fees were higher ($145.61 vs $103.11). There were no significant differences in immediate disposition or subsequent emergency department visits, hospitalizations, missed school, or caretaker's missed work during the 7 days post visit. CONCLUSION: Use of handheld computers that provide guideline-based decision support was associated with increased physician adherence to guideline recommendations; however, visits were prolonged, fees were higher, and no improvement could be demonstrated with regard to the observed intermediate-term patient outcomes. Guideline implementers (and users) should be cautious about putting unvalidated recommendations into practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Text entry on handheld computers by older users.

Small pocket computers offer great potential in workplaces where mobility is needed to collect data or access reference information while carrying out tasks such as maintenance or customer support. This paper reports on three studies examining the hypothesis that data entry by older workers is easier when the pocket computer has a physical keyboard, albeit a small one, rather than a touch-screen keyboard. Using a counter-balanced, within-subjects design the accuracy and speed with which adults over 55 years of age could make or modify short text entries was measured for both kinds of pocket computer. The keyboard computer was the Hewlett Packard 360LX (HP), but the touch-screen computers varied across studies (experiment 1: Apple Newton and PalmPilot; experiment 2: Philips Nino; experiment 3: Casio E10). All studies showed significant decrements in accuracy and speed when entering text via the touch-screen. Across studies, most participants preferred using the HP's small physical keyboard. Even after additional practice with the touch screen (experiments 2 and 3) many entries still contained errors. Experiment 3 showed that younger people were faster but not more accurate than older people at using the touch-screen keyboard. It is concluded that satisfactory text entry on palm-size computers awaits improvements to the touch-screen keyboard or alternative input methods such as handwriting or voice. Interface developments that assist older people typically benefit younger users too.

Aged↗