Learning Nephrology through Mobile Devices: The Nephrology On-Demand Mobile Experience
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Abstract
Background
An increasing number of healthcare providers (HCP) are consuming medical information through mobile devices, but the popularity of these devices is unknown. Medical educators who provide online information need to know how potential learners utilize mobile devices to obtain information if they wish to effectively communicate using these technologies. This knowledge will allow educators to properly allocate IT resources and develop effective medical websites. In this study, we characterized how HCPs use mobile devices to access a medical education website.
Methods
Nephrology-related medical information was made available to all mobile devices (smartphones, PDA’s) through Nephrology On-Demand Mobile (http://www.nephrologyondemand.org) (ISSN 2155-9813). The website was coded in the Wordpress-µ platform and is maintained by the Division of Nephrology at East Carolina University. It contains evidence-based Nephrology teaching material that is categorized by topic, date, and target audience. Computer code from WPTouch was included in the root files of the website to display a mobile-specific version of the website when accessed through a mobile device. Google Analytics code was also inserted into the root files of the website. This code tracked visits, pageviews, time on site, bounce rate, location, connection speed, device type, and browser type for all mobile devices. New and return visits were also calculated by using IP addresses and cookies. Data was collected from February to October 2010.
Results
A total of 638 mobile visits were made during the study period (5.4% of the total visits to Nephrology On-Demand). These visits came from 3 areas of the world (United States 91%, Europe 3%, and Asia 4%, Central & South America 2%). Four-hundred and forty one visits (71%) were from the Apple iPhone device. Adobe Flash-compatible devices, such as those running the Google Android operating system, comprised 16% of all mobile visits. Fifty-five percent of all visits were through a cellular connection. As a result of the slower connection speed, users spent the most time on the website (264 seconds/visit) when using this connection. When users connected via faster speeds, they spent less time but viewed more resources than through a cellular connection (97-158 seconds/visit for 2.14-2.65 resources/visit).
Conclusions
Data from Nephrology On-Demand Mobile can guide educators in developing user-friendly teaching tools in an attractive platform. These data demonstrate the usability from mobile devices. Educators should prioritize Apple iPhone users when allocating IT resources. Adobe Flash-compatible teaching resources should be avoided if one wishes to address the largest audience. Educators contemplating using mobile devices should initially develop English-only resources. Finally, because cellular connections are the most common internet connections, teaching resources should be programmed to load quickly through this type of connection. Further investigation is underway to provide additional information about user learning experiences through mobile devices.
An increasing number of healthcare providers (HCP) are consuming medical information through mobile devices, but the popularity of these devices is unknown. Medical educators who provide online information need to know how potential learners utilize mobile devices to obtain information if they wish to effectively communicate using these technologies. This knowledge will allow educators to properly allocate IT resources and develop effective medical websites. In this study, we characterized how HCPs use mobile devices to access a medical education website.
Methods
Nephrology-related medical information was made available to all mobile devices (smartphones, PDA’s) through Nephrology On-Demand Mobile (http://www.nephrologyondemand.org) (ISSN 2155-9813). The website was coded in the Wordpress-µ platform and is maintained by the Division of Nephrology at East Carolina University. It contains evidence-based Nephrology teaching material that is categorized by topic, date, and target audience. Computer code from WPTouch was included in the root files of the website to display a mobile-specific version of the website when accessed through a mobile device. Google Analytics code was also inserted into the root files of the website. This code tracked visits, pageviews, time on site, bounce rate, location, connection speed, device type, and browser type for all mobile devices. New and return visits were also calculated by using IP addresses and cookies. Data was collected from February to October 2010.
Results
A total of 638 mobile visits were made during the study period (5.4% of the total visits to Nephrology On-Demand). These visits came from 3 areas of the world (United States 91%, Europe 3%, and Asia 4%, Central & South America 2%). Four-hundred and forty one visits (71%) were from the Apple iPhone device. Adobe Flash-compatible devices, such as those running the Google Android operating system, comprised 16% of all mobile visits. Fifty-five percent of all visits were through a cellular connection. As a result of the slower connection speed, users spent the most time on the website (264 seconds/visit) when using this connection. When users connected via faster speeds, they spent less time but viewed more resources than through a cellular connection (97-158 seconds/visit for 2.14-2.65 resources/visit).
Conclusions
Data from Nephrology On-Demand Mobile can guide educators in developing user-friendly teaching tools in an attractive platform. These data demonstrate the usability from mobile devices. Educators should prioritize Apple iPhone users when allocating IT resources. Adobe Flash-compatible teaching resources should be avoided if one wishes to address the largest audience. Educators contemplating using mobile devices should initially develop English-only resources. Finally, because cellular connections are the most common internet connections, teaching resources should be programmed to load quickly through this type of connection. Further investigation is underway to provide additional information about user learning experiences through mobile devices.
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