Background: Mobile device use has become a necessity in one’s life. Much less is known about the patterns of mobile use by doctors while working in clinical settings. The aim of this study is to describe the patterns by which doctors use mobile devices in the clinical settings and doctors perceptions related to its use.  

Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020 and included 200 doctors working in Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan. After obtaining ethical approval and taking informed consent, participants were requested to fill a self-designed questionnaire. Identity was kept anonymous and data was organized and analyzed through SPSS software version 23.

Results: Out of 170 participants who responded, 92.4 % reported using mobiles phones in clinical settings for communication purposes, while 49.4 % used mobiles for information access. Only 18.2 % doctors used mobiles for organization and scheduling purposes. 27% percent doctors reported using social media application during clinical hours with Facebook being the most common application. Overall, the participants perceived use of mobiles to be useful and supplemental in patient care but issues of ethics and disruption in patient care with mobile usage needed to be dealt with.

Conclusion: There is increasing utility of mobile phones in the lives of doctors in all domains including clinical settings. Clear policies regarding mobile phone usage can help health professionals use this technology in a more productive way to improve patient care.