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Why British GPs use computers and hospital doctors do not
1Abies Ltd, London, UK.
Insights
General medical practitioners (GPs) in the UK widely adopted computers due to political support and incentives, unlike hospital doctors. This paper analyzes the factors driving this disparity in medical computing adoption over thirty years.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Medical Practice Management
- Health Policy
Background:
- General medical practitioners (GPs) in the UK exhibit high computer adoption rates, contrasting sharply with hospital doctors.
- British medical computing has evolved over three decades, presenting both successes and failures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the reasons behind the divergent adoption of computer technology by GPs and hospital doctors in the UK.
- To identify key factors influencing the integration of computing in different healthcare settings over a 30-year period.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of twelve distinct factors contributing to the adoption of computers in British general practice and hospital settings.
- Historical review of policy, professional leadership, regulatory frameworks, and financial incentives impacting medical computing.
Main Results:
- Political backing for general practice and high-level professional leadership were crucial drivers for GP computer adoption.
- The development of a suitable regulatory framework and financial incentives significantly encouraged GPs to use computers.
- Hospital computing progress has been hindered primarily by a lack of incentives for hospital doctors to adopt computer systems.
Conclusions:
- Technical aspects were less influential than political and professional factors in driving GP computer adoption.
- The absence of clear incentives (positive or negative) for hospital doctors remains a significant barrier to computer use in hospitals.
- Policy and professional engagement are critical for successful technology integration in healthcare.
Abstract:
Almost all general medical practitioners (GPs) in the UK use computers, compared with less than one in ten of hospital doctors. This paper explains how this unexpected situation came about over a thirty-year period, identifying some of the successes and failures of British medical computing along the way. Twelve separate factors are considered. The major determinants have not been technical, but rather a strong tide of political backing for general practice and leadership from the profession at the highest level, which have combined to build an appropriate regulatory framework and financial incentives that have encouraged GPs to embrace computers. Hospital computing has some difficulties not met by GPs, but the main factor preventing progress has been the lack of any real incentive positive (carrot) or negative (stick), for hospital doctors to use computers.