Computer Use during Office Visits May Lower Patient Perception of Care Quality
January 8, 2016 | Strategic Insights for Ambulatory Care
Preview
Significant use of computers during office visits was associated with lower patient perceptions of care quality and poorer communication between patients and providers, finds a study published January 2016 in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study of 71 patient encounters in a safety-net clinic serving patients with limited English proficiency and health literacy found that patients who had visits with less computer use were more likely to rate the quality of care they received as excellent. Researchers found that more computer use was associated with more disagreements between the provider and patients (e.g., about whether a prescription had been filled) and a less positive demeanor.