There is no shortage of medical applications available for iOS and Android devices; however, there is little insight available on how medical professionals actually use the technology. That is, until now.

Researchers in London surveyed 257 medical students and 131 junior doctors (equivalent to residents in the U.S.) about their smartphone usage habits. They found that 79 percent of medical students and 75 percent of junior doctors owned a smartphone, with the majority of students and doctors owning an iPhone.

Both populations said they used medical apps several times a day. Over the course of a 24-hour day, students used apps for between one and 30 minutes. Residents used apps for a slightly shorter time (one to 20 minutes), with very few residents reporting more than 30 minutes of app usage in a given day.

Several doctors noted that using a mobile device in the presence of patients could be misinterpreted as checking texts or emails, which may limit the amount of time spent using apps.

“The culture of looking lazy or uninterested by playing on your phone needs to be overcome. Once patients and consultants realise the phone use is work related I will feel more comfortable,” wrote one respondent.