Information technology and general practice. A survey of general practitioner attitudes towards computerisation

General practitioners in the central Sydney area were surveyed to quantify the extent of, and attitudes towards, computerisation in Australian general practice.

Two surveys were mailed to all GPs in the central Sydney area, first in 1994, and again in 1996. The majority of questions in both surveys were identical. The results were collated and descriptive and comparative statistics calculated.

There was an increase in the use of computers for clinical tasks and, GPs' attitudes towards computerised prescribing systems became more positive. There was a persistent negative attitude towards the actual costs of computerisation.

Methods are now required to transform the increased use of computers by GPs into improved outcomes for them and their patients.