title: Health information technology and physician-patient interactions: impact of computers on communication during outpatient primary care visits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of introducing health information technology (HIT) on physician-patient interactions during outpatient visits.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a longitudinal pre-post study: two months before and one and seven months after introduction of examination room computers. Patient questionnaires (n = 313) after primary care visits with physicians (n = 8) within an integrated delivery system. There were three patient satisfaction domains: (1) satisfaction with visit components, (2) comprehension of the visit, and (3) perceptions of the physician's use of the computer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients reported that physicians used computers in 82.3% of visits. Compared with baseline, overall patient satisfaction with visits increased seven months after the introduction of computers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-2.22), as did satisfaction with physicians' familiarity with patients (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.01-2.52), communication about medical issues (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.05-2.47), and comprehension of decisions made during the visit (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.06-2.50). In contrast, there were no significant changes in patient satisfaction with comprehension of self-care responsibilities, communication about psychosocial issues, or available visit time. Seven months post-introduction, patients were more likely to report that the computer helped the visit run in a more timely manner (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.28-2.42) compared with the first month after introduction. There were no other significant changes in patient perceptions of the computer use over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The examination room computers appeared to have positive effects on physician-patient interactions related to medical communication without significant negative effects on other areas such as time available for patient concerns. Further study is needed to better understand HIT use during outpatient visits.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA. jth@dor.kaiser.org
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jimison
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frankel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires