Review of computer usage among RACGP members

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• General Practice Technology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Assessing the adoption of technology in healthcare settings is crucial for understanding practice evolution.
• Previous estimations of computerisation in Australian general practice may have been overestimated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of computer use in Australian general practice.
• To understand the attitudes of general practitioners towards computerisation.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was conducted in late 1993 using a mail-out questionnaire.
• The survey targeted 638 randomly selected members of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
• Follow-up mailings and standard statistical software were used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• A response rate of 62.4% (398 participants) was achieved.
• 39.7% of practices reported using or having used a computer system; 7.8% used a computerised patient record system.
• Computerised practices were more likely to be teaching practices, rural, larger, have higher income, and employ a non-medical practice manager.

Conclusions:

• Computerisation in Australian general practice appears less prevalent than commonly assumed.
• A significant knowledge gap exists among non-computer users regarding the advantages of computerisation, impacting adoption decisions.