Document Detail


How information retrieval technology may impact on physician practice: an organizational case study in family medicine.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15304142     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
RATIONALE: Information retrieval technology tends to become nothing less than crucial in physician daily practice, notably in family medicine. Nevertheless, few studies examine impacts of this technology and their results appear controversial. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Our article aims to explore these impacts using the medical literature, an organizational case study and the literature on organizations. METHODS: The case study was embedded in an evaluation of the implementation of medical and pharmaceutical databases on handheld computers in a Canadian family medicine centre. Six physicians were interviewed on specific events relative to the use of these databases and on their general perception of impacts of this use on clinical decision making and the doctor-patient relationship. A thematic data analysis was performed concomitantly by both authors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Findings indicate six types of impact: practice improvement, reassurance, learning, confirmation, recall and frustration. These findings are interpreted in accordance with both a medical and organizational perspective. The fit with the literature on inter-organizational memory supports the transferability of the findings. In turn, this fit suggests how information retrieval technology may change physician routine. This study suggests a new basis for evaluating the impact of information retrieval technology in daily clinical practice. In conclusion, our paper encourages policy-makers to develop, and physicians to use, this technology.
Authors:
P Pluye; R M Grad
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of evaluation in clinical practice     Volume:  10     ISSN:  1356-1294     ISO Abbreviation:  J Eval Clin Pract     Publication Date:  2004 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-08-12     Completed Date:  2004-11-19     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9609066     Medline TA:  J Eval Clin Pract     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  413-30     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Social Studies of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Pierre.Pluye@mail.mcgill.ca
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Canada
Computers, Handheld
Family Practice / organization & administration*
Information Storage and Retrieval / methods*
Interviews as Topic
Organizational Case Studies
Physician's Practice Patterns*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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