Harnessing Information Technology to Inform Patients Facing Routine Decisions: Cancer Screening as a Test Case.
Ann Fam Med
; 15(3): 217-224, 2017 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28483886
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Technology could transform routine decision making by anticipating patients' information needs, assessing where patients are with decisions and preferences, personalizing educational experiences, facilitating patient-clinician information exchange, and supporting follow-up. This study evaluated whether patients and clinicians will use such a decision module and its impact on care, using 3 cancer screening decisions as test cases.METHODS:
Twelve practices with 55,453 patients using a patient portal participated in this prospective observational cohort study. Participation was open to patients who might face a cancer screening decision women aged 40 to 49 who had not had a mammogram in 2 years, men aged 55 to 69 who had not had a prostate-specific antigen test in 2 years, and adults aged 50 to 74 overdue for colorectal cancer screening. Data sources included module responses, electronic health record data, and a postencounter survey.RESULTS:
In 1 year, one-fifth of the portal users (11,458 patients) faced a potential cancer screening decision. Among these patients, 20.6% started and 7.9% completed the decision module. Fully 47.2% of module completers shared responses with their clinician. After their next office visit, 57.8% of those surveyed thought their clinician had seen their responses, and many reported the module made their appointment more productive (40.7%), helped engage them in the decision (47.7%), broadened their knowledge (48.1%), and improved communication (37.5%).CONCLUSIONS:
Many patients face decisions that can be anticipated and proactively facilitated through technology. Although use of technology has the potential to make visits more efficient and effective, cultural, workflow, and technical changes are needed before it could be widely disseminated.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Physician-Patient Relations
/
Decision Making, Computer-Assisted
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Mass Screening
/
Decision Making
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Information Technology
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Early Detection of Cancer
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Adult
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Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Ann Fam Med
Journal subject:
MEDICINA DE FAMILIA E COMUNIDADE
Year:
2017
Type:
Article