[Views of professionals and patients on the introduction of computer science into the consultation]. / Opinión de profesionales y pacientes sobre la introducción de la informática en la consulta.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the views of professionals and patients on the computerisation of consultations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Rural health district in the province of Barcelona, with a population of about 15,000. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive sampling of people seen in the health district and the group of health professionals working in it. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Two anonymous self-filled questionnaires with closed questions aimed at health professionals and a sample of patients (accuracy, 0.05; confidence, 95%; prevalence, 50%). RESULTS: The mean age of the 407 patients was 48.4 (SD, 17.2), with 63.6% women. 21 questionnaires were filled in by the professionals (91%), 12 by doctors, and 9 by nurses. Their mean age was 43.9 (SD, 7.5), and 71.4% were women. For common questions, 54.3% of patients were keen on seeing the screen, while professionals calculated this figure at 11%. 5.6% of patients thought computerisation had changed the relationship, whereas 31.6% of professionals did. 12.6% of patients thought it had made the visit longer, whereas 38.1% of the professionals thought it had. 10.6% of patients and 47.4% of professionals thought it had led to loss of confidentiality. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of computers into consultations was accepted well. Professionals were more worried than patients about possible loss of confidentiality, and thought that there had been bigger changes in the doctor-patient relationship and that visits had become longer.

Opinión de profesionales y pacientes sobre la introducción de la informática en la consulta / Views of professionals and patients on the introduction of computer science into the consultation

Objetivo. Comparar la opinión de los profesionales y los pacientes sobre la informatización de las consultas. Diseño. Transversal. Emplazamiento. Centro de salud rural de la provincia de Barcelona. Participantes. Muestreo consecutivo de personas visitadas en el centro de salud y conjunto de profesionales sanitarios que trabajan en él. Mediciones principales. Dos cuestionarios anónimos y autorrellenables, con preguntas cerradas, dirigidos a los profesionales sanitarios y a una muestra de pacientes (precisión, 0,05; confianza, 95%; prevalencia 50%). Resultados. La edad media de los 407 pacientes es de 48,4 ± 17,2 años y un 63,6% es mujer. Se obtuvieron 21 encuestas de los profesionales (91%), 12 médicos/as y 9 enfermeros/as. La edad media es de 43,9 ± 7,5 años y el 71,4% es mujer. En las preguntas comunes, interesa ver la pantalla al 54,3% de los pacientes, mientras que entre los profesionales este porcentaje es del 11%. Creen que ha cambiado la relación el 5,6% de los pacientes y el 31,6% de los profesionales, que ha aumentado la duración de la visita el 12,6% de los pacientes y el 38,1% de los profesionales y que hace perder confidencialidad el 10,6% de los pacientes y el 47,4% de los profesionales. Conclusiones. La introducción del ordenador en la consulta ha sido bien aceptada. Los profesionales, a diferencia de los pacientes, muestran más preocupación por la posible pérdida de confidencialidad, creen que ha habido mayores cambios en la relación y que ha aumentado la duración de las visitas

Objective. To compare the views of professionals and patients on the computerisation of consultations. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. Rural health district in the province of Barcelona, with a population of about 15 000. Participants. Consecutive sampling of people seen in the health district and the group of health professionals working in it. Main measurements. Two anonymous self-filled questionnaires with closed questions aimed at health professionals and a sample of patients (accuracy, 0.05; confidence, 95%; prevalence, 50%). Results. The mean age of the 407 patients was 48.4 (SD, 17.2), with 63.6% women. 21 questionnaires were filled in by the professionals (91%), 12 by doctors, and 9 by nurses. Their mean age was 43.9 (SD, 7.5), and 71.4% were women. For common questions, 54.3% of patients were keen on seeing the screen, while professionals calculated this figure at 11%. 5.6% of patients thought computerisation had changed the relationship, whereas 31.6% of professionals did. 12.6% of patients thought it had made the visit longer, whereas 38.1% of the professionals thought it had. 10.6% of patients and 47.4% of professionals thought it had led to loss of confidentiality. Conclusions. The introduction of computers into consultations was accepted well. Professionals were more worried than patients about possible loss of confidentiality, and thought that there had been bigger changes in the doctor-patient relationship and that visits had become longer