Does computer use in patient-physician encounters influence patient satisfaction?

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Patient-Physician Interaction
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Physician computer use during patient encounters is increasingly common.
• Understanding patient perceptions of this technology is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of physician computer use on patient satisfaction in a family medicine setting.
• To explore patient preferences and perceived effects of computer use on the patient-physician interaction.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional mailed survey was conducted.
• 300 adult patients from a family medicine teaching center were randomly sampled.
• The survey assessed patient preferences and the impact of computer use on interaction aspects.

Main Results:

• A 58.3% response rate was achieved. Most patients (51.4%) had no preference regarding physician computer use.
• 88.0% of patients reported high satisfaction with their visits.
• Positive effects of computer use were noted on overall satisfaction (57.1%), though distraction and non-medical chat time were unaffected.

Conclusions:

• Physician computer use appears to positively influence patient satisfaction without a strong patient preference for or against it.
• Physician attitudes towards computer use significantly correlate with patient preferences.
• The study highlights the nuanced impact of technology on the patient experience in primary care.