Tablet Computers in the Waiting Room: Patient Attitudes Towards The Use Of Tablet Computers For Clinic Based Personalized Healthcare Information
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Abstract
Introduction: Annual national healthcare expenditure in the United States is expected to surpass $3 trillion by 2013. The majority of this cost will be related to the management of preventable chronic diseases. To reduce the economic burden of chronic disease and deliver efficient, higher quality care, new approaches are needed to disseminate health information, actively engage patients, encourage lifestyle changes, and promote effective self-care. To achieve these goals, better use could be made of existing information and communication technologies. One method would be to leverage the power of low-cost, easy to use handheld tablet computers while patients are in the waiting room.
Objective: The goal of this study was to examine health information seeking behaviors of patients and their interest in a proposed tablet computer for clinic-based personalized health information exchange (TABHIT). TABHIT would enable patients to access personalized health information, view educational messages and audiovisual materials, and record changes in the health behavior and health status prior to the appointment.
Methods: Surveys were administered to 86 patients in a primary care waiting room in a Boston area community health center. The survey included a diagram and description of the proposed TABHIT system. Surveys assessed health information seeking behaviors, preferences, and patient interest and perceived usability of the proposed TABHIT system.
Results: The mean age of patient participants was 43.5 years, with 38% male and 62% female, 93.5% had a GED or higher, and 72% were self-categorized as Caucasian, with the largest single minority being Hispanic at 13%. Seventy-eight percent of patients looked for health information during the past year. Eighty-three percent of health seekers looked first online and 8% turned first to their health care provider (HCP). Despite looking first online, 53% preferred to learn about their health during their clinic visit. Additionally, the average wait time for an appointment was 29 minutes with 56% describing the time waiting as “not well spent”. When asked about interest in the proposed TABHIT application, 85% of patients expressed some interest with 64% being very/extremely interested. The TABHIT model of clinical interaction was considered more motivating, informative, and engaging than traditional printed materials, websites, and e-mails. However, when compared to face-to-face interactions with their HCP, patients did not find the proposed TABHIT model to be more motivating, engaging, or informative. Forty-four percent of patients thought that it would improve their relationship with their doctor and 60% of patients thought it would improve their knowledge about their health. Only 33% were concerned about privacy. Seventy-five percent of patients were “very” or “extremely” confident in their ability using a basic tablet computer.
Conclusion: Patients were highly amenable to integrating digital tablets into the clinical experience. Tablet-based clinical systems may be a useful tool to improve patient-provider communication and patients’ health knowledge and self-care behaviors. Further research is needed to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of tablet-basted clinic-based personalized health information systems.
Objective: The goal of this study was to examine health information seeking behaviors of patients and their interest in a proposed tablet computer for clinic-based personalized health information exchange (TABHIT). TABHIT would enable patients to access personalized health information, view educational messages and audiovisual materials, and record changes in the health behavior and health status prior to the appointment.
Methods: Surveys were administered to 86 patients in a primary care waiting room in a Boston area community health center. The survey included a diagram and description of the proposed TABHIT system. Surveys assessed health information seeking behaviors, preferences, and patient interest and perceived usability of the proposed TABHIT system.
Results: The mean age of patient participants was 43.5 years, with 38% male and 62% female, 93.5% had a GED or higher, and 72% were self-categorized as Caucasian, with the largest single minority being Hispanic at 13%. Seventy-eight percent of patients looked for health information during the past year. Eighty-three percent of health seekers looked first online and 8% turned first to their health care provider (HCP). Despite looking first online, 53% preferred to learn about their health during their clinic visit. Additionally, the average wait time for an appointment was 29 minutes with 56% describing the time waiting as “not well spent”. When asked about interest in the proposed TABHIT application, 85% of patients expressed some interest with 64% being very/extremely interested. The TABHIT model of clinical interaction was considered more motivating, informative, and engaging than traditional printed materials, websites, and e-mails. However, when compared to face-to-face interactions with their HCP, patients did not find the proposed TABHIT model to be more motivating, engaging, or informative. Forty-four percent of patients thought that it would improve their relationship with their doctor and 60% of patients thought it would improve their knowledge about their health. Only 33% were concerned about privacy. Seventy-five percent of patients were “very” or “extremely” confident in their ability using a basic tablet computer.
Conclusion: Patients were highly amenable to integrating digital tablets into the clinical experience. Tablet-based clinical systems may be a useful tool to improve patient-provider communication and patients’ health knowledge and self-care behaviors. Further research is needed to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of tablet-basted clinic-based personalized health information systems.
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