title: The health interview: automated assessment in a multidisciplinary outpatient hypertension treatment program.
abstract: We studied patients' acceptance of a computer-administered health assessment and educational program at an outpatient hypertension clinic. The program was designed to be user-friendly and minimized the need for keyboard skills. Thirty patients > or = 50 years of age participated. The computer assessment took an average of 39 minutes to complete. Completion time was related to age but not to other demographic factors such as sex, education, or previous computer use. The program was well accepted by patients. Its personalized risk-factor summary and life style advice were particularly well received. We conclude that automated history-taking and educational programs can be used in this health care setting.
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Hypertension Clinic, Foothills Hospital, Calgary, AB.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Taenzer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sauve
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milkavich
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whitmore
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic