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PERIODIC SURVEY OF FELLOWS
American Academy of Pediatrics
Division of Health Policy Research
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Periodic Survey #51
Use of Computers and Other Technologies
| PERSONAL USE: |
COMPUTERS/INTERNET |
| PRACTICE USE: |
PATIENT-PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEMS INPDA, PATIENT-OFFICE EMAIL, PRACTICE WEB PAGE;
AND OFFICE-BASED PRACTICE SETTINGS |
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This survey addressed pediatricians' use of computers
at the office and at home. The survey was initiated by the former Task
Force on Medical Informatics to track trends in office-based management
information systems and other computer technology, including the use
of patient care software and the capability for electronic interface
with systems outside the office, by replicating questions from Periodic
Survey #36, 1997. The AAP Department of Information Technology provided
input on new questions exploring pediatricians' use of personal digital
assistants (PDAs), email interaction with patients, availability of
an office or personal Web page, and pediatricians' personal use of computers
and the Intranet. Findings from this Periodic Survey will be used to
better identify members' needs on informatics and other computer use
issues, and to guide future efforts in developing resources and educational
programs to meet those needs.
Periodic Survey #51 was an eight-page self-administered
questionnaire sent to 1,616 active United States members from October
2001 through February 2002. After an original and five follow-up mailings
a total of 882 completed questionnaires were received for a response
rate of 54.6%. Trend analyses of questions regarding use of medical
informatics and electronic interface in pediatric offices are based
on 703 pediatricians in 2002 (80% of all respondents) and 800 pediatricians
in 1997 (75% of all respondents) who provide direct patient care in
an office or clinic-based setting. In 2002, additional questions on
use of computers for patient care are also based on 703 pediatricians
who provide direct patient care in an office or clinic-based setting,
whereas questions regarding personal use of computers/Internet are based
on all respondents (n=882) regardless of professional activity.
Personal use of computers: (percent
of pediatricians reporting)
| • |
97% of pediatricians personally
use a computer (n=853 all respondents) |
| ° |
Use a computer at work: 95% |
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Use a computer at home: 79% |
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Mean number of hours per week
use a computer at any location: 12.6 hrs |
Personal use of Internet/World Wide Web (www):
(percent of pediatricians reporting)
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Site where Web is most frequently
accessed (n=796): home (66%); work (33%) |
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Type of connection to the Internet:
regular modem with phone line (44%), DSL (18%), cable modem (17%),
ISDN-BRL (12%) |
| • |
Frequency of Web use (n=822):
daily (50%), 4 to 6 times/week (22%), 2 to 3 times/week (16%), once
a week (6%), less once/week (5%) |
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Primary reasons for not using
the Web (ie, use Web less than once a week) include (n=37):
lack of time (73%), lack of interest (30%), lack of comfortable
using Web (30%) |
| • |
Pediatricians
use the Web primary for (n=820): non-medical news and information
(86%), medical information sources (85%), literature searches
(73%), personal purchases (70%), professional association communication
(54%). |
Use of a personal digital assistant (PDA): (percent of
pediatricians reporting)
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Use a PDA in their practice
(n=696 office-based pediatricians): 38% |
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Primary uses include: keeping
a daily schedule (77%), accessing pharmacology references (76%),
and medical calculations (75%) |
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Plan to acquire
a PDA within 3 years: 26% |
Use of email in the office: (percent
of pediatricians reporting)
| • |
Use email to
communicate with patients (n=664 office-based pediatricians): 14%
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Primary uses of email include:
accepting requests for prescription refills (54%), communicating test
results (41%), and scheduling appointments (37%) |
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Communicate via standard
email (63%) versus a secure messaging system (16%) |
| • |
Reasons for
not using email to communicate with patients include: lack of physician
time (52%), lack of office staff time (42%), concerns about privacy/confidentiality
(45%, lack of interest in communicating via email (38%), too few
patients with email (34%) |
| • |
Use office email
to communicate with non-patients (n=664): 30% |
Web page: (percent of pediatricians
reporting)
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Pediatricians
or their practice with a Web page (n=67, office-based): 51% |
Patient/Practice Management Information Systems:
(percent of pediatricians reporting)
| • |
Pediatricians
reporting an office computer system that stores or processes patient
information: 91% in both 2002 and 1997. |
| • |
In 2002, 41% of pediatricians
report their practice uses computer software to manage a diagnoses
or problem list; 37% say their office tracks immunizations
via the computer, and 36% say their medical office maintains other
clinical records on the computer. Fewer than 30% of pediatricians
report using software for other types of patient care management. |
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For each type of patient
care program listed on the survey, the proportion of pediatricians
in 2002 who report their office computer system utilizes such software
has significantly increased from 1997. |
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In 2002, 41% of pediatricians
report their office electronically submits and receives laboratory
results, 39% electronically submits claims for private third-party
payers, and 35% electronically submits claims for state Medicaid
programs. Fewer than 30% of pediatricians report electronically
accessing or transmitting data for other purposes. |
| ° |
For most outside electronic
databases listed on the survey, the proportion of pediatricians
in 2002 who say their medical office electronically accesses or
transmits data to outside databases has significantly increased
from 1997. |
Not for citation or quotation without permission
of the author
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