Documentation in a medical setting with young and older adults

Abstract

The presence of a device meant to enhance the medical encounter may alter the nature of the doctor-patient interaction in a way that affects patient satisfaction. The focus of this study was to examine the social impact of introducing advanced exam-room technologies to the doctor-patient interaction. By comparing cohorts (young: 18-39 and older: 62-89) we examined a possible age-related interaction. Participants viewed one of several video conditions portraying a physician conducting a medical interview in which he uses one of various documenting technologies (Nothing, Pen and Paper, PDA, Desktop Computer, Wearable Computer). After viewing the interaction, participants completed a series of questionnaires evaluating their general satisfaction with the quality of care (QoC) given during the medical interview. Patient satisfaction levels did significantly vary depending on the technology condition, participant cohort, and participant gender. Overall, young adults and females rated the doctor more favorably. The favorability of ratings for each technology condition depended on the aspect of QoC examined.