Evidence-based policy? The use of mobile phones in hospital.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Evidence-based policies have become increasingly accepted in clinical practice. However, policies on many of the non-clinical activities that take place in health care facilities may be less frequently evidence based.

METHODS:
We carried out a review of literature on safety of mobile phones in hospitals and survey of practice in selected European countries.

RESULTS:
When first evidence on the dangers of electronic interference associated with mobile phones appeared in the 1990s, hospitals in many countries introduced complete bans on mobile phones. Yet a review of recent evidence suggests that there is no significant risk from using mobile phones in hospitals as long as they are more than a metre away from sensitive equipment, whereas the risk to the most modern equipment is even less. With the technological evolution of mobile phones, the residual risk of interference appears to be minimal and controllable. Although some countries are reluctant to relax regulation, others now limit bans to areas in which sensitive equipment is used and some discourage the use of mobile phones on the grounds of noise exposure.

CONCLUSION:
With new technology on the doorstep, the potential benefits and risks associated with mobile phones should be examined explicitly in the light of the evidence.

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Author information

Author/s: Ettelt, Stefanie (S); Nolte, Ellen (E); McKee, Martin (M); Haugen, Odd Arild (OA); Karlberg, Ingvar (I); Klazinga, Niek (N); Ricciardi, Walter (W); Teperi, Juha (J);

Affiliation: European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Journal of public health (Oxford, England) (J Public Health (Oxf)), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Dec; vol 28 (issue 4) : pp 299-303

Dates: Created 2006/11/22; Completed 2007/03/08;

PMID: 17071816, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Cellular Phone - standards
Data Collection
Electromagnetic Fields - adverse effects
Europe
Evidence-Based Medicine
Hospital Administration

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