Projects / Programmes
Possible uses of modern infromation technologies in doctor-patient communication in family medicine
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.08.00 |
Medical sciences |
Public health (occupational safety) |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B680 |
Biomedical sciences |
Public health, epidemiology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.05 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Other medical sciences |
family medicine, doctor-patient communication, information technologies
Researchers (8)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
18329 |
PhD Josip Car |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Head |
2010 - 2013 |
244 |
| 2. |
22819 |
PhD Tatja Kostnapfel |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2010 - 2013 |
363 |
| 3. |
33164 |
PhD Irena Makivić |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Junior researcher |
2012 - 2013 |
82 |
| 4. |
10458 |
PhD Borut Peterlin |
Human reproduction |
Researcher |
2010 |
852 |
| 5. |
24226 |
PhD Antonija Poplas Susič |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2010 - 2013 |
361 |
| 6. |
18328 |
PhD Danica Rotar Pavlič |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2010 |
1,121 |
| 7. |
10937 |
PhD Polona Selič - Zupančič |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2010 - 2013 |
465 |
| 8. |
32522 |
MSc Rajko Vajd |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2011 - 2013 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Possible uses of modern information technology in physician-patient communication in family medicine
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Communication is the foundation in medicine on which everything else depends. It is a verbal, non-verbal or written process for sharing and exchanging information, emotions and decisions. Information technology (IT) brings new possibilities for, faster, more convenient, and richer communication and flow of information, which can take place without face to face contact saving time and other resources. The increase of productivity in many working environments/systems is related to the use of information technology, which enables new forms of communication and makes generating, spreading and utilizing new ideas more effective. IT support is necessary for organizing, storing, accessing and presenting the identified solutions. Family physicians should ensure personal, primary and constant medical care to individuals and families, acting in an educational, preventive and therapeutic manner. Family physicians fulfil their mission through communication with patients in cooperation with other medical specialists, non-medical workers, administrative personnel and with the help of the necessary medical equipment.
Communication with patients represents an irreplaceable source of information. It usually takes place in the clinic, at home visits, over the telephone, etc.. Although traditional modes of communication in family medicine have been studied thoroughly, scope for use of modern information technology in patient management, consulting and other integrative types of patient care have not been studied to date in Slovenia and is under-researched internationally.
AIM AND OBJECTIVESS: The aim of this study is to research possible uses of modern information technology (internet, web forums and email) in physician-patient communication in family medicine. To achieve this purpose we will examine the patients' and physicians’ attitudes to the use of modern information technology, analyse the functioning of the existent web sites related to health promotion and health consulting (med.over.net) and develop an on-line treatment room trial project. We will apply quantitative and qualitative research methods and seek for the study approval from the National Medical Ethics Committee.
ORIGINALITY OF THE RESULTS – HYPOTHESES: The accessibility of modern information technology (such as personal computer, internet, email) is increasing, but is not utilized sufficiently in patient-physician communication in family medicine. Consulting and management of patients with chronic diseases can improve with the use of modern information technology. The age of the patients has important influence on their attitude to communication with physicians, either personal or using the modern information technology. The length of service has important influence on the attitude of physicians to the use of modern information technology for communication with patients.
RELEVANCE AND POTENITAL INFLUENCE OF THE RESULTS: The use of modern information technology (especially email) can reduce the number of face to face consultations in family medicine, but it requires a reorganisation of work of the family physician. Visits to websites such as med.over.net are increasing every year; this form of communication has the potential to become an important way of patient care. Careful implementation requires determining the accessibility of the physician, reorganising work in the clinic and establishing an evaluation system for quality and safety of new mode of delivering care through IT. The results of analysis of the »on-line« treatment room in our study will facilitate implementation of wider use of modern IT in family medicine and the preparation of recommendations for family physicians how to conduct such communication.
Significance for science
For the first time in Slovenia our project aimed to explore opportunities for use of modern information technologies (internet, web forums and email) in communication with patients in family medicine. We developed and piloted a questionnaire for patients and physicians to study attitudes of both groups to use of modern information technologies. We also studied the web portal www.zdravinapot.si connected with health promotion related to travel medicine. Findings from patient (health consumer) studies We identified factors which are independently associated with acceptance/non-acceptance of use of ICT in communication with family physician and discovered that those are more associated to characteristics of ICT rather than social or demographic characteristics of patients. Patient attitudes to communication with their family physician with the ICT is associated with their computer literacy, connectedness to social networks with that intention (e.g. provision of information about physician’s availability in the clinic) and certain characteristics of ICT. In patients with one chronic illness their attitudes to use of ICT in communication with their chosen family physician was associated with their computer literacy, however in patients with multiple chronic conditions this was not the case. Population ageing has resulted also in greater multimorbidity and in Slovenia up to 54.2% of population has a chronic disease whilst 13.5% have multiple. When planning healthcare for these patients it is important to consider also their attitudes to use of ICT for communication with their family physician. Patients with chronic conditions have unaltered attitudes to use of ICT however they are older and use email less. Those living in the countryside seem to be less inclined to use ICT. Use of email reflected well on overall computer literacy which is most strongly associated attitudes towards use of ICT in communication with their family physician. Findings from family physicians’ studies Regular use of the internet for learning and email’s characteristics associated with utilisation of time and opportunity for feedback about the email being received determine attitudes of family physicians to using these means for communication with patients. Over 70% of family physicians supported introduction of ICT as a regular mean of communication with their patients and this wasn’t associated with a need for reorganization of their work pattern. Only those who do not support introduction of email and mobile phone in communication with patients thought that these should be preceded/accompanied with reorganization of care in clinics although 89.0% of all participants supported this change. Even higher percentage of participants supported defining a specific time when they would be available through ICT (93.1%) and responsiveness of the physician (92.7%) and the need for introducing a system of recording (95.3%). Physicians’ years in practice wasn’t associated with their attitudes toward the use of ICT. However, higher age, working in the countryside greater use of computers at work and advantages of email (speed and time savings) were. Analysis of web portal Web portal www.ZdraviNaPot.si was found to be an appropriate tool for achieving it primary goal to encourage preventive behaviours with a public health programme, facilitate timely and complex informing and counselling before travelling for travellers and tourists so that they could in timely manner seek help. Also in this case study computer literacy showed to be an important factor.
Significance for the country
Family physician fulfils his/her mission through communication with patients and together with other medical specialists, allied health professionals and other support staff. Communication with patients is indispensable source of information to guide treatment and is taking new trends and increasingly happening not just face to face but deploing ICT. Before 2009 there was no research on the potential use of ICT in communication with patients in family medicine in Slovenia. Therefore this applied project aimed to explore the role of modern ICT (internet, web forums and email) in communication with patients. We researched attitudes of both patients and physicians, analysed working of web portal dedicated to health promotion and counselling. We found that patient characteristics weren’t significantly associated with the use of ICT but rather the other way around. We found that patients who seek health information also in social forums and those who rank lower usefulness of such information are more receptive to communication with their physician via email. More they think that communication via email is welcome for informing and in case the physician is unavailable more receptive they are to such approach to communication. To those that consider the cost of email an important consideration and those stressing importance of having possibility of econsulting due to physical distances concerned about safety of email and a need for additional security were not finding this an appropriate mean of communication. We can summarize that patients accept email for simpler communication (e.g. information sharing) and not for more complex communication, which is important for future planning of health services. In international studies physicians are often presented as not in favour of introducing ICT in communication with patients because of concerns related to payment, time, overwork, inappropriateness of that mean of communication for health issues, concerns about security and confidentiality, risks of mistakes or delays in treatment. Slovene family physicians’ attitudes were influenced by their age, marital status, location where they work (countryside), use of computer in other domains of their work and characteristics of email such as timeliness and time savings and not concerns related to weaknesses of email. It is not possible to conclude whether Slovene family phsycians are not aware of concerns related to safety and confidentiality or have different attitudes to those. It seems that the time pressure is the key factor which determines physicians’ attitudes and may be different from those of physicians in other international studies where use of ICT is still relatively low. Whilst international studies raise issues related to payment of ICT communication with patients, legal concerns, confidentiality and safety these issues did not surface among Slovene family physicians. It is thus important to plan appropriate educational interventions in this domain.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
