Patient attitudes of smartphone use by medical staff in teaching hospital emergency departments

PURPOSE: This study investigate patient attitudes towards the use of smartphones by medical staff in teaching hospital emergency departments. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2023 in the emergency departments of Ferdows city hospitals. The study population comprised patients with stable medical conditions and an Emergency Severity Index of 3 or 4 who had spent at least 2 h in the emergency department. A sample of 120 patients was included in the study. A validated questionnaire was used to assess patient attitudes toward smartphone use by medical staff across six domains: role in health care, distraction potential, impact on communication, empathy, privacy, and professionalism. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS version 26. FINDINGS: Most patients (69.2%) reported that the use of smartphones by medical staff improved care provision. No significant associations were found between patient attitudes towards smartphone use and demographic factors (p > 0.05). However, significant relationships were observed between patient attitudes and concerns about distractions, reduced empathy and patient confidentiality breaches due to smartphone use (p < 0.001). RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Although patients generally perceived medical staff' use of smartphones as beneficial, concerns regarding their impact on communication quality and information security underscore the need for clear institutional guidelines and patient education to ensure the effective, safe and patient-centered integration of smartphones into emergency department practice. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Given the known benefits and the goal of improving healthcare quality and patient safety, it is crucial to evaluate patient attitudes towards healthcare providers' use of Smart mobile phones.