Computer-based documentation: effect on parent and physician satisfaction during a pediatric health maintenance encounter.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of a computer-based documentation (CBD) tool on parent and physician satisfaction with a pediatric health maintenance encounter.


METHODS
The project used a preintervention and postintervention design. The preintervention group visits used paper-based forms for data entry, whereas the postintervention visits used CBD. At the conclusion of each encounter, both the physician and the parent completed a survey that assessed their perceptions of the encounter's quality.


METHODS
Urban hospital-based pediatric teaching clinic.


METHODS
Parents and physicians of children 18 months and younger.


METHODS
Parent and physician satisfaction with 7 components of a health maintenance encounter (interim history, social history, anticipatory guidance, developmental assessment, physical examination, assessment, and plan).


RESULTS
There was no change in overall parent or physician satisfaction in the areas of communication or physician helpfulness. Physicians using CBD were less likely to agree that they provided clear explanations but were also less likely to agree that they "acted bossy during the visit." There was no correlation between physician and parent satisfaction or between physician satisfaction and pattern of CBD use. However, there was a strong correlation between physicians' satisfaction and the extent to which they found CBD helpful (Spearman rho = 0.29, P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of CBD into the health maintenance encounter did not affect measured aspects of parent or physician satisfaction; these results support its continued use in that setting.
Johnson
Kevin B
KB
Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. Kevin.johnson@vanderbilt.edu
Serwint
Janet R
JR
Fagan
Lawrence M
LM
Thompson
Richard E
RE
Wilson
Modena H
MH
D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D010290:Parents; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States