Effects of exam room EHR use on doctor-patient communication: a systematic literature review
<p><strong>Background</strong> High levels of funding have been invested in health information technologies, especially electronic health records (EHRs), in an effect to coordinate and organize patient health data. However, the effect of EHRs in the exam room on doctor–patient comm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Innovation in Health Informatics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hijournal.bcs.org/index.php/jhi/article/view/37 |
| _version_ | 1811202367513690112 |
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| author | Zainab Kazmi |
| author_facet | Zainab Kazmi |
| author_sort | Zainab Kazmi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p><strong>Background</strong> High levels of funding have been invested in health information technologies, especially electronic health records (EHRs), in an effect to coordinate and organize patient health data. However, the effect of EHRs in the exam room on doctor–patient communication has not been sufficiently explored.</p><p><strong>Objective</strong> The purpose of this systematic review was to determine how physician use of EHRs in medical consultations affects doctor–patient communication, both in terms of patient perceptions and actual physician behaviours.</p><p><strong>Method</strong> The reviewer conducted a comprehensive online database search in March 2013 of EMBASE, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS, using a combination of synonyms of the terms “patient”, “doctor”, “communication”, and “EHR” or “computing”. For inclusion in this review, articles had to be published in English, take place in an outpatient setting and demonstrate an empirical investigation into whether EHR affects doctor–patient communication. The reviewer then analysed 13 articles that met the inclusion criteria.</p><p><strong>Results</strong> Studies showed EHR use encouraged biomedical questioning of the patient, and encouraged patient-led questioning and doctor-led information provision. EHR-related behaviours such as keyboarding and screen gaze impaired relationships with patients, by reducing eye contact, rapport, and provision of emotional support. EHRs negatively affected physician-led patient-centred communication. Computer use may have amplified existing physician behaviours regarding medical record use.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong> We noted both positive and negative effects of EHR use. This review highlights the need for increased EHR-specific communication training to mitigate adverse effects and for continued acknowledgement of patient perspectives.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:37:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d94924edd6849778f0260619557985d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2058-4555 2058-4563 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:37:34Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Innovation in Health Informatics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d94924edd6849778f0260619557985d2022-12-22T03:51:27ZengBCS, The Chartered Institute for ITJournal of Innovation in Health Informatics2058-45552058-45632014-01-01211303910.14236/jhi.v21i1.3739Effects of exam room EHR use on doctor-patient communication: a systematic literature reviewZainab Kazmi0MBChB ‘16 University of Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester Greater Manchester M13 9PL UK<p><strong>Background</strong> High levels of funding have been invested in health information technologies, especially electronic health records (EHRs), in an effect to coordinate and organize patient health data. However, the effect of EHRs in the exam room on doctor–patient communication has not been sufficiently explored.</p><p><strong>Objective</strong> The purpose of this systematic review was to determine how physician use of EHRs in medical consultations affects doctor–patient communication, both in terms of patient perceptions and actual physician behaviours.</p><p><strong>Method</strong> The reviewer conducted a comprehensive online database search in March 2013 of EMBASE, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS, using a combination of synonyms of the terms “patient”, “doctor”, “communication”, and “EHR” or “computing”. For inclusion in this review, articles had to be published in English, take place in an outpatient setting and demonstrate an empirical investigation into whether EHR affects doctor–patient communication. The reviewer then analysed 13 articles that met the inclusion criteria.</p><p><strong>Results</strong> Studies showed EHR use encouraged biomedical questioning of the patient, and encouraged patient-led questioning and doctor-led information provision. EHR-related behaviours such as keyboarding and screen gaze impaired relationships with patients, by reducing eye contact, rapport, and provision of emotional support. EHRs negatively affected physician-led patient-centred communication. Computer use may have amplified existing physician behaviours regarding medical record use.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong> We noted both positive and negative effects of EHR use. This review highlights the need for increased EHR-specific communication training to mitigate adverse effects and for continued acknowledgement of patient perspectives.</p>http://hijournal.bcs.org/index.php/jhi/article/view/37computerised medical records systemselectronic health recordsHealth communicationMedical informaticsPhysician-patient relationsProfessional-patient relationsPrimary health care |
| spellingShingle | Zainab Kazmi Effects of exam room EHR use on doctor-patient communication: a systematic literature review Journal of Innovation in Health Informatics computerised medical records systems electronic health records Health communication Medical informatics Physician-patient relations Professional-patient relations Primary health care |
| title | Effects of exam room EHR use on doctor-patient communication: a systematic literature review |
| title_full | Effects of exam room EHR use on doctor-patient communication: a systematic literature review |
| title_fullStr | Effects of exam room EHR use on doctor-patient communication: a systematic literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of exam room EHR use on doctor-patient communication: a systematic literature review |
| title_short | Effects of exam room EHR use on doctor-patient communication: a systematic literature review |
| title_sort | effects of exam room ehr use on doctor patient communication a systematic literature review |
| topic | computerised medical records systems electronic health records Health communication Medical informatics Physician-patient relations Professional-patient relations Primary health care |
| url | http://hijournal.bcs.org/index.php/jhi/article/view/37 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zainabkazmi effectsofexamroomehruseondoctorpatientcommunicationasystematicliteraturereview |