The Connection Between Cell Phone Use and Patient Health Status

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls:

• A prospective study at the Mayo Clinic Rochester was conducted to examine whether patients actively using their phones on initial assessment in the ED was associated with higher discharge rates
• The study included 292 patients, and only about 15% of patients were on their phone
  • The patients on their phone tended to be a younger demographic
• Scribes were trained to record the data during their shifts
• The results did show that patients on their phone have a higher rate of discharge
  • 94% chance of discharge if the patient is on their phone
  • 64% chance of discharge if the patient is not on their phone
• This concept can potentially contribute to improving triage decisions

References

1. Garcia SI, Jacobson A, Moore GP, Frank J, Gifford W, Johnson S, Lazaro-Paulina D, Mullan A, Finch AS. Airway, breathing, cellphone: a new vital sign? Int J Emerg Med. 2024 Nov 22;17(1):177. doi: 10.1186/s12245-024-00769-0. PMID: 39578750; PMCID: PMC11583604.

Summarized by Meg Joyce, MS2 | Edited by Meg Joyce & Jorge Chalit, OMS4

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