title: Questionnaire survey on the use of computerisation in dental practices across the Thames Valley Region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the extent of and attitudes to computerisation in dental practices across the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority Region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postal questionnaire survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response rate of 88% was achieved. Most (77%) of the practices were using computerised systems or were planning to do so soon. The main reasons for not using computers were that computerisation was not currently necessary (56%), practice staff were reluctant to move to electronic systems (24%), or because computer systems were perceived as too expensive (19%). Computerised systems were used mainly for transmitting dental practice board data, or managing patient and financial records. Only 45% of practices had access to the internet and electronic mail (email). Forty-nine percent of practices thought that it was important to have access to email, 46% to the internet and 40% to NHSnet. Many practices requested training for staff in a variety of areas including managing databases and setting up web-sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the advantages of using computerised systems, many dental practices were only using them to a limited extent. Training and follow-up support may encourage dental practice teams to develop more positive attitudes towards computerisation and encourage them to use computers more extensively in clinical practice.
authors: Cherwell Vale Primary Care Trust, Oxford. jeyanthi.john@cherwellvale-pct.nhs.uk
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: John
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Thomas
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Richards
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003199:Computer Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003200:Computer User Training; D003792:Dental Records; D003797:Dental Staff; D003815:Dentists; D034742:Electronic Mail; D004739:England; D005376:Financial Management; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires