@article{doi:10.5116/ijme.5a11.8422, author = {Fralick, M. and Haj, R. and Hirpara, D. and Wong, K. and Muller, M. and Matukas, L. and Bartlett, J. and Leung, E. and Taggart, L.}, title = {Can a smartphone app improve medical trainees’ knowledge of antibiotics?}, journal = {Int J Med Educ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {416-420}, year = {2017}, doi = {10.5116/ijme.5a11.8422}, URL = {http://www.ijme.net/archive/8/evaluation-of-a-smartphone-app/},eprint = {http://www.ijme.net/archive/8/evaluation-of-a-smartphone-app.pdf}, abstract = {Objectives: To determine whether a smartphone app, containing local bacterial resistance patterns (antibiogram) and treatment guidelines, improved knowledge of prescribing antimicrobials among medical trainees. Methods: We conducted a prospective, controlled, pre-post study of medical trainees with access to a smartphone app (app group) containing our hospital’s antibiogram and treatment guidelines compared to those without access (control group). Participants completed a survey which included a knowledge assessment test (score range, 0 [lowest possible score] to 12 [highest possible score]) at the start of the study and four weeks later. The primary outcome was change in mean knowledge assessment test scores between week 0 and week 4. Change in knowledge assessment test scores in the app group were compared to the difference in scores in the control group using multivariable linear regression. Results: Sixty-two residents and senior medical students participated in the study. In a multivariable analysis controlling for sex and prior knowledge, app use was associated with a 1.1 point (95% CI: 0.10, 2.1) [β = 1.08, t(1) = 2.08, p = 0.04]  higher change in knowledge score compared to the change in knowledge scores in the control group. Among those in the app group, 88% found it easy to navigate, 85% found it useful, and about one- quarter used it daily. Conclusions: An antibiogram and treatment algorithm app increased knowledge of prescribing antimicrobials in the context of local antibiotic resistance patterns. These findings reinforce the notion that smartphone apps can be a useful and innovative means of delivering medical education.}, }