Dissemination of computer skills among physicians: the infectious process model

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Health Professions Education
• Computer Science in Medicine

Background:

• The utility of computer technology in medicine is widely recognized, yet effective teaching methods for physicians remain underdeveloped.
• Significant variability exists in physician computer fluency, indicating a lack of standardized computer skills requirements.
• Novel techniques are necessary for imparting and measuring computer skills among medical professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate methods for effectively teaching computer skills to physicians.
• To assess the impact of a specialized course and role modeling on physician computer adoption.
• To quantitatively describe and predict the growth of computer utilization in medicine.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of a specialized computer course for physicians.
• Introduction of a role model with expertise in both medicine and computer science.
• Application of an infectious process model to describe the growth of computer system usage.

Main Results:

• Exposure to a qualified role model generated intense interest in medical computing among physicians.
• A perceived benefit in computer knowledge fostered an atmosphere conducive to skill development.
• Increased availability of resources and peer-to-peer skill exchange led to greater computer system use.

Conclusions:

• A combination of specialized education and influential role models can significantly enhance physician computer adoption.
• The infectious process model provides a quantitative framework for understanding and predicting the spread of medical computing.
• Targeted interventions can effectively increase computer utilization within the medical profession.