Development of an observational tool on computer use during rounds

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Clinical Communication

Background:

• Clinical rounds are crucial for patient care coordination.
• Current information and communication technology (ICT) may not optimally support clinical discourse during rounds.
• Understanding computer usage patterns is essential for effective ICT design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an observational tool for capturing computer usage patterns during clinical rounds.
• To inform the design of ICT that better supports clinical discourse.
• To understand the context of computer use in multidisciplinary team communication.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel observational tool.
• Integration of the tool into a video-recording study of clinical rounds.
• Analysis of computer usage, information exchange, and communication patterns.

Main Results:

• The tool captures the choreography and logistics of information exchange during rounds.
• Provides insights into how, when, and why computers are utilized.
• Identifies opportunities for improving ICT support for clinical communication.

Conclusions:

• Observational tools are valuable for understanding technology use in clinical settings.
• Findings can guide the development of more effective clinical information systems.
• Optimizing ICT can enhance communication and potentially improve patient care during rounds.