Documentation in a Medical Setting: Effects of Technology on Perceived Quality of Care

The authors examine the social impact of introducing advanced exam-room technologies to the doctorpatient interaction. A total 342 participants viewed one of several video conditions portraying a physician conducting a medical interview in which he used one of 5 documenting methods/devices (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) delivered during the medical interview. Results reveal that the type of technology used has a significant effect on QoC ratings. Though advanced technology offers the opportunity of better healthcare delivery, there may be a trade-off with lower ratings of interpersonal interactions.