Analysis of the interruptions generated by the use of smartphones among Primary Care Health professionals

Objective: To analyze the particular use of smartphones among Primary Care Health professionals during the care act and its consequences. Design: Multicenter, cross-sectional study in a primary care setting, carried out in 3 phases: survey of professionals, checklist of professionals and survey of patients. Participants: Primary Care Health professionals from the Territorial Primary Care Management of Barcelona (online survey) and health professionals (checklist) and patients (patient survey) from 2 primary care teams in Barcelona city. Main measurements: Bivariate descriptive analysis of the variables from the different surveys. Use of the mobile phone in the consultation, time, reason, type of use and perception of appropriateness. Characteristics of interruptions. Results: In relation to patients, 31% consider that the health professional should only consult the mobile phone if it is to resolve some aspect of their reason for consultation and 10% consider it a lack of respect. Eighteen percent of patients describe interruptions, the majority lasting between 10 and 30 s and considering them mostly avoidable. In relation to professionals, the majority (96%) claim to have their mobile phone in the consultation and on mute (77%), with only 2% recognizing its use in the presence of the patient, which is in line with what the patients describe. Furthermore, 80% of professionals say they ask permission to use it, contrasting with what patients report (50%). Eighty-five percent of professionals consider its use appropriate. Conclusions: The use of mobile phones is perceived by patients as an interruption that can affect the care act, generating dissatisfaction, which must be taken into account by health professionals. Healthcare organizations should establish recommendations regarding the use of mobile phones in consultations.