title: Teaching Electronic Health Record Communication Skills.
abstract: This pilot study investigated nurse practitioner students' communication skills when utilizing the electronic health record during history taking. The nurse practitioner students (n = 16) were videotaped utilizing the electronic health record while taking health histories with standardized patients. The students were videotaped during two separate sessions during one semester. Two observers recorded the time spent (1) typing and talking, (2) typing only, and (3) looking at the computer without talking. Total history taking time, computer placement, and communication skills were also recorded. During the formative session, mean history taking time was 11.4 minutes, with 3.5 minutes engaged with the computer (30.6% of visit). During the evaluative session, mean history taking time was 12.4 minutes, with 2.95 minutes engaged with the computer (24% of visit). The percentage of time individuals spent changed over the two visits: typing and talking, -3.1% (P = .3); typing only, +12.8% (P = .038); and looking at the computer, -9.6% (P = .039). This study demonstrated that time spent engaged with the computer during a patient encounter does decrease with student practice and education. Therefore, students benefit from instruction on electronic health record-specific communication skills, and use of a simple mnemonic to reinforce this is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Department of Nursing, University of Vermont, Burlington (Dr Palumbo); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (Dr Sandoval); Adult Primary Care-South Burlington, Vermont (Dr Sandoval); Office of Health Promotion Research, University of Vermont, Burlington (Dr Hart); and University of Vermont Medical Center and University of Vermont College of Nursing, South Burlington (Ms Drill).
authors.forename: Mary Val
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drill
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013338:Students, Nursing; D013663:Teaching