title: The impact of residents' training in Electronic Medical Record (EMR) use on their competence: report of a pragmatic trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Even though Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are increasingly used in healthcare organizations there is surprisingly little theoretical work or educational programs in this field. This study is aimed at comparing two training programs for doctor-patient-computer communication (DPCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  36 Family Medicine Residents (FMRs) participated in this study. All FMRs went through twelve identical simulated encounters, six pre and six post training. The experiment group received simulation based training (SBT) while the control group received traditional lecture based training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Performance, attitude and sense of competence of all FMRs improved, but no difference was found between the experiment and control groups. FMRs from the experiment group evaluated the contribution of the training phase higher than control group, and showed higher satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We assume that the mere exposure to simulation served as a learning experience and enabled deliberate practice that was more powerful than training. Because DPCC is a new field, all participants in such studies, including instructors and raters, should receive basic training of DPCC skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simulation enhances DPCC skills. Future studies of this kind should control the exposure to simulation prior to the training phase. Training and assessment of clinical communication should include EMR related skills.
authors.affiliation: Bar Ilan University Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Safed, Israel.
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sagi
authors.forename: Orit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.forename: Yosi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuchnir
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Azuri
authors.forename: Varda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shalev
authors.forename: Amitai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziv
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations
keywords: Doctor–patient communication; Doctor–patient–computer communication (DPCC); Electronic Medical Record (EMR); Medical education; Simulation based training (SBT)