title: General practice computing in Scotland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate a method of assessing the extent of routine patient data held on computer by Scottish general practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  An "electronic questionnaire" in the form of an interrogation questionnaire was used to extract a subset of data from practice computers running a standard software package (the general practice administrative system for Scotland, GPASS). The data were retained by each practice and also collected and analysed centrally to produce regional and national data.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 257 general practices in Scotland using GPASS software were sent the electronic questionnaire; data from 154 practices, including 759 general practitioners and covering 1,010,452 patients, were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety three practices had all their patient records on computer; others had selectively entered data on, for example, only those patients receiving repeat prescriptions. The number of computerised patient records per practitioner ranged from 46 to 2373. Altogether 194,261 patients had repeat prescribing data and 204,005 morbidity or clinical data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An electronic questionnaire is a simple and effective way of investigating the information held on practice computers, allowing analysis and feedback of information to practitioners. Development of this system will provide a cumulative information system for Scottish general practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill Health Centre.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Brotherston
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008499:Medical Records; D012606:Scotland; D012984:Software