Exploring e-readers to support clinical medical education: Two case studies

Abstract

Question: Can e-readers loaded with medical textbooks and other relevant material benefit medical students, residents, and preceptors in clinical settings? Settings: The settings are North Carolina community clinics served by Duke University Medical Center and St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan, Texas, and Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. Methods: Duke University: Twenty second-year medical students and fourteen family medicine clerkship preceptors used Kindle e-readers in clinics during eight months of rotations. Students and preceptors provided feedback through an anonymous online survey. Texas A&M University: Nine fourth year medical students in an elective compared medical textbooks in print, online, and on a Kindle. Six residents at a local hospital completed an anonymous online survey after a three-week loan of a Kindle loaded with medical textbooks. Results: The e-reader's major advantages in clinical settings are portability and search ability. The selected e-reader's limitations include connection speed, navigation, and display. User preferences varied, but online resources were preferred. Participants suggested additional uses for Kindles in medical education. Conclusions: The selected e-reader's limitations may be resolved with further development of the device. Investigation of other e-readers is needed. Criteria for evaluating e-readers in clinical settings should include portability, search ability, speed, navigation, and display. Research comparing e-readers and mobile devices in clinical education is also warranted.