Using Tablets to Take Medical Histories Before Doctor Visits
Author Information
Author(s): Hauber Roman, Schirm Maximilian, Lukas Mirco, Reitelbach Clemens, Brenig Jonas, Breunig Margret, Brenner Susanne, Störk Stefan, Puppe Frank
Primary Institution: University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
Hypothesis
Can a digital system for taking medical histories improve efficiency and patient satisfaction in outpatient care?
Conclusion
The use of automated history-taking tools can help physicians gather patient medical histories more efficiently, reducing their workload.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients rated the tablet survey as more convenient than paper surveys by 80%.
- Over 90% of patients found the questions helpful for assessing their complaints.
- 95% of patients believed the survey prior to the physician visit would benefit their treatment.
Takeaway
Doctors can use tablets to ask patients about their health before they see them, which saves time and helps everyone understand the patient's needs better.
Methodology
A prospective pilot study was conducted in a cardiology outpatient practice where patients used a tablet to document their medical history before seeing the physician.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in patient acceptance due to non-validated questions and the specific context of the study.
Limitations
The study was conducted in a single practice with one physician, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 18 to 101, with a near-equal distribution of males (48%) and females (52%).
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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