Evaluation of an e-health system at a university general practice
Contact - Dr. Mark Gabbay, Consortium Director/Senior Lecturer in General Practice, Division of Primary Care, University of Liverpool. e-mail mbg@liv.ac.uk tel: 0151 794 5610
Academic Lead(s)
- Dr Donal Flynn, Dept. of Computation, Manchester University
- Dr. Mark Gabbay
Project Status
Complete. PhD submission November 2005
Collaborating Institutions
- MPCRDC
- University of Liverpool
- Manchester University
- Brownlow Group Practice
Funding
MPCRDC
Aim
To explore the impact of an on-line patient service in terms of its implications for both patients themselves and the organisation of general practice
Method
The study uses established qualitative informatics research methods (ethnomethodological and interactionist analytical approach), an interpretivist and longitudinal analytical approach, ethnographic observations and in-house survey as well as a quantitative web based survey integrated with the EMIS access system
16 practice and IT staff (pre-implementation and post-implementation phase); 45 interviews with patients (users and non users) including students, professionals and homeless.
Results
From initial data analysis the following general observations can be made:
- Some participants were keen about the new IT system and upcoming features for the e-healthcare system that will be taking place as the system develops.
- Others were more sceptical
- Issues around confidentiality and privacy were major concerns raised by patients
- Participants believed that relationships between the practice and patients would improve
- Work practices, workload management, routines and freeing up time for members of the PHCT remain issues to be further evaluated