Exploring patient reactions to pen-tablet computers: a report from CaReNet.
OBJECTIVE
We wanted to study patient receptivity to using pen-tablet computers for collecting data in a practice-based research network.


METHODS
We analyzed exit interviews and field notes collected by trained research assistants as part of a larger Colorado Research Network (CaReNet) study comparing pen-tablet and paper-pencil methods to collect data for the Primary Care Network Survey (PRINS).


RESULTS
A total of 168 patients completed a patient exit interview after completion of the pen-tablet-based survey instrument. Analyses of these brief interviews and field notes indicated that patients had favorable reactions to using pen-tablet computers. The most common barriers were related to glitches in the technology; the voice recognition software was the most problematic, with patients (as well as clinicians) finding this feature to be frustrating.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients were able and willing to use pen-tablet computers for completing forms within busy primary care offices. Increasing patient involvement in practice-based research may be even more practicable through the use of this novel technology, which can allow patient-directed data collection at a single point in time as well as longitudinally.
Main
Deborah S
DS
Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, Colo 80045-0508, USA. debbi.main@uchsc.edu
Quintela
Javan
J
Araya-Guerra
Rodrigo
R
Holcomb
Sherry
S
Pace
Wilson D
WD
D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003120:Colorado; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D005194:Family Practice; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014584:User-Computer Interface