title: Oncology outpatient and provider responses to a computerized symptom assessment system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess patient and provider responses to a computerized symptom assessment system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, longitudinal study with retrospective, longitudinal medical records review.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based National Cancer Institute-designated outpatient cancer center.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy, 8 providers, and 30 medical records.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients completed the computerized assessment during three chemotherapy follow-up clinic appointments (times 1, 2, and 3). Patient usability was recorded via an observer checklist (ease of use) and the computer (completion time). Patient satisfaction and impact were assessed during telephone interviews two to three days after times 1 and 3 only. Provider usability and impact were assessed at the end of the study using a questionnaire and focus groups, whereas effect on provider documentation was assessed through chart audits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient usability (ease of use, completion time), satisfaction, and impact; provider usability and impact.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients reported good usability, high satisfaction, and modest impact on discussions with their providers. Providers reported modest usability, modest impact on discussions with patients, and had varied reactions as to how the system affected practice. Documentation of symptoms was largely absent before and after implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This system demonstrated good usability and satisfaction but had only a modest impact on symptom-related discussions and no impact on documentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A computerized system can help address barriers to symptom assessment but may not improve documentation unless it can be integrated into existing medical records systems.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. carpentj@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rawl
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tornatta
authors.forename: Foluso
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ojewole
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Helft
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: R Brian
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Giesler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D004282:Documentation; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies