Dilemmas in introducing World Wide Web-based information technology in primary care: a focus group study

When implementing a computer-based decision support system for any disease group in a primary health care centre, success will depend on the introductory efforts put into the project. The users must have plenty of information, above all regarding what can and what cannot be done by the computer-based decision support system. A personal introduction including a personal instruction session in front of the computer is imperative. Different aspects of technical maturity of the system must be met. Communication within and outside of the local net must be stable.

Using a designated focus group methodology, we studied the introduction of advanced information technology in primary care by applying an inter/intranet decision support system for ambulatory ear, nose and throat diagnostics using a World Wide Web tool at the Skänninge health centre in Ostergötland, Sweden.

A computer-based decision support system of the kind studied here may after a refinement period have all the qualities asked for by the users, and this study can be used as part of a user-developer dialogue for a future system.