Do primary care physicians prefer dictated or computer-generated discharge summaries?
J. E. Brazy, D. L. Langkamp, N. D. Brazy and R. F. De Luna
Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
OBJECTIVE--To determine the preference of primary care physicians for
computer-generated vs dictated discharge summaries from a neonatal
intensive care unit. DESIGN--Survey mailed to primary care physicians.
SETTING--Regional referral area of a level III neonatal intensive care
unit. PARTICIPANTS--Pediatricians and family medicine physicians caring for
infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS--Of 58
questionnaires sent, 45 (78%) were returned. Overall, 33 physicians (73%)
either strongly or mildly preferred the computer-generated discharge
summary; eight (18%) had no preference; and four (9%) preferred the
dictated discharge summary (P < .001). The category of strongest
preference was relevance of information for continued patient care.
Preference for type of discharge summary was not significantly influenced
by time in practice, type of practice, preference to read or scan
summaries, or frequency of computer use. CONCLUSION--Primary care
physicians prefer computed-generated discharge summaries to dictated
discharge summaries.
