What’s so different about mobile information communication technologies (MICTs) for clinical work practices? A review of selected pilot studies

Abstract

This article seeks to highlight some distinctive issues involved in the use of mobile information and communication technologies (MICTs) in the healthcare context. A three-layered framework for analysing cases of MICT-in-use is developed from the literature and employed to analyse evidence from a number of healthcare MICT pilot studies. These indicate that MICTs create new implementation challenges, and that developers and implementers appear to pay little attention to the particular workflow modalities of mobility and their relationship with the type of MICT. In terms of effects on clinical work practices, MICTs seemed to make access to information easier but not necessarily faster. Better integration of MICTs with other hospital systems and use of wireless networks were seen as necessary to achieve greater uptake. Areas for further research that might support the implementation of MICTs in healthcare are identified.