Computer use by general practitioners in Scotland.

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Informatics
• Health Services Research
• General Practice Technology Integration

Background:

• Widespread adoption of desktop computers by general practitioners (GPs) lacks sufficient evaluation regarding actual usage during patient consultations.
• The impact of computer use on patient satisfaction in primary care settings remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the extent of computer utilization by GPs during patient consultations.
• To explore the relationship between computer use during consultations and patient satisfaction levels.

Main Methods:

• Six GPs completed self-report questionnaires on computer usage during surgeries.
• Eighty-four patient consultations were video-recorded for objective analysis of computer use.
• Patient satisfaction was measured using the validated Consultation Satisfaction Questionnaire post-consultation.

Main Results:

• GPs self-reported high computer usage, but video observation confirmed use in only 51% of consultations.
• Computer use averaged 12% of consultation time, primarily for prescribing.
• Computerized consultations (CU) were longer by an average of 148 seconds compared to non-computerized consultations (NCU), with no significant difference in patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Actual computer use in general practice consultations is lower than self-reported, even among interested GPs.
• Computer use during consultations extends consultation time without a discernible positive impact on patient satisfaction.
• Further research is essential to maximize the potential benefits of desktop computers in general practice by understanding their impact on the consultation process.