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CMAJ • October 28, 2003; 169 (9)
© 2003 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors

NEWS
NOUVELLES

PULSE

More than half of MDs under age 35 now using PDAs

Shelley Martin

Senior Analyst CMA Research, Policy and Planning

Results from the CMA's 2003 Physician Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) indicate that a third of Canadian physicians are now using a personal digital assistant (PDA) or wireless device such as a Palm Pilot in clinical practice, a 73% increase from the level of 19% recorded in 2001. In the 2002 PRQ, 28% of doctors reported using the devices. Use is highest among younger doctors, with more than half of those under age 35 (53%) now using a wireless device in clinical practice, compared with 15% of physicians aged 65 and older.


Figure.

Elsewhere on the electronic front, 17% of Canadian medical practices now have a Web site, the same proportion as in 2002. They are most popular among medical specialists, 25% of whom have launched sites.

After increasing from 41% in 1997 to 89% in 2002, the proportion of physicians who personally use the Internet now appears to have levelled off at 88%. Physicians under age 35 are most likely to make personal use of the medium (96%), while those aged 55–64 and 65+ are least likely (83% and 71%).

A large majority of physicians (90%) have had patients present medical information obtained on the Internet. At least occasionally, two-thirds of them (64%) refer patients to Web sites containing medical information. Those aged 65+ (47%) are least likely to do this. Even physicians who don't use the Internet refer patients to Web sites at least occasionally (33%), while 68% of MDs who use the Internet make these referrals. — Shelley Martin, Senior Analyst, CMA Research, Policy and Planning




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