title: Clinical computing in general dentistry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Measure the adoption and utilization of, opinions about, and attitudes toward clinical computing among general dentists in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey of a random sample of 256 general dentists in active practice in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 39-item telephone interview measuring practice characteristics and information technology infrastructure; clinical information storage; data entry and access; attitudes toward and opinions about clinical computing (features of practice management systems, barriers, advantages, disadvantages, and potential improvements); clinical Internet use; and attitudes toward the National Health Information Infrastructure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors successfully screened 1,039 of 1,159 randomly sampled U.S. general dentists in active practice (89.6% response rate). Two hundred fifty-six (24.6%) respondents had computers at chairside and thus were eligible for this study. The authors successfully interviewed 102 respondents (39.8%). Clinical information associated with administration and billing, such as appointments and treatment plans, was stored predominantly on the computer; other information, such as the medical history and progress notes, primarily resided on paper. Nineteen respondents, or 1.8% of all general dentists, were completely paperless. Auxiliary personnel, such as dental assistants and hygienists, entered most data. Respondents adopted clinical computing to improve office efficiency and operations, support diagnosis and treatment, and enhance patient communication and perception. Barriers included insufficient operational reliability, program limitations, a steep learning curve, cost, and infection control issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical computing is being increasingly adopted in general dentistry. However, future research must address usefulness and ease of use, workflow support, infection control, integration, and implementation issues.
authors.affiliation: Center for Dental Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. titus@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Titus K L
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Schleyer
authors.forename: Thankam P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Thyvalikakath
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spallek
authors.forename: Miguel H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Torres-Urquidy
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Jeannie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuhaniak
mesh_terms: D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D003813:Dentistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011215:Practice Management, Dental