Questionnaire survey on the use of computerisation in dental practices across the Thames Valley Region.
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.
John
J H
JH
Cherwell Vale Primary Care Trust, Oxford. jeyanthi.john@cherwellvale-pct.nhs.uk
Thomas
D
D
Richards
D
D
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