title: Use of a computer interviewing system in a chiropractic clinic during periodic patient reassessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a computer interviewing system (CIS) could be used as part of the periodic patient reassessment process, if patients and practitioners perceived that the CIS enhanced communication, and if the CIS could be used to identify patients with possible anxiety and/or depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational method was used, whereby the CIS was used to augment the usual patient reassessment routine in a chiropractic clinic. One clinic in the Dundee region, with 3 chiropractors, collected information from 60 patients using a CIS directly before the patient treatment session. The patients were then asked to rate whether they had disclosed new information relative to their care, if they felt better prepared, or if it had helped them to formulate questions. The chiropractors reported whether the interview transcript was useful, if it helped to identify communication issues, and if it had altered the treatment session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The doctors of chiropractic rated the interview transcript as useful for 83% of patients, they altered the treatment session for 20% of patients, and the CIS helped to identify communication difficulties for 13% of patients. The chiropractors were surprised by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale results for 23% of patients. The patients were positive about the inclusion of the CIS, with 42% saying that they disclosed new information and 33% saying that they felt better prepared for the session with the chiropractor after having used the CIS. The CIS was acceptable to 90% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inclusion of the CIS at this one clinic appeared to be a useful addition to the periodic patient reassessment process and was perceived to be an efficient media to evaluate Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores.
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, School of Computing, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK. katrina.hands@tiscali.co.uk
authors.forename: Katrina A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hands
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cashley
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McWilliam
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steen
mesh_terms: D002684:Chiropractic; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009817:Office Management; D014584:User-Computer Interface