title: Data extraction and feedback - does this lead to change in patient care?
abstract: BACKGROUND Computers enable general practitioners to collate clinical data within their practices. The improvements that this can make to clinical care remain the subject of enquiry. OBJECTIVE Does the analysis of clinical data for the purpose of instigating quality improvement strategies in general practice, with support from a local division of general practice, lead to positive changes in measures of care after 12 months? DISCUSSION This study demonstrated that, in this setting, the collection and analysis of clinical data, with support from a division of general practice, led to modest increases in the recording of information rather than improvements in clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University and board member, Monash Division of General Practice, Melbourne, Victoria. schattner@monash.edu
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schattner
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stanger
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Speak
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010346:Patient Care Management; D058996:Quality Improvement; D014739:Victoria