Integrating a health-related-quality-of-life module within electronic health records: a comparative case study assessing value added

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Creator
  • Shea, Christopher
    • Affiliation: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
  • Halladay, Jacqueline R.
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
  • Reed, David
    • Affiliation: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
  • Daaleman, Timothy P
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
Abstract
  • Abstract Background Health information technology (HIT) applications that incorporate point-of-care use of health-related quality of life (HRQL) assessments are believed to promote patient-centered interactions between seriously ill patients and physicians. However, it is unclear how willing primary care providers are to use such HRQL HIT applications. The specific aim of this study was to explore factors that providers consider when assessing the value added of an HRQL application for their geriatric patients. Methods Three case studies were developed using the following data sources: baseline surveys with providers and staff, observations of staff and patients, audio recordings of patient-provider interactions, and semi-structured interviews with providers and staff. Results The primary factors providers considered when assessing value added were whether the HRQL information from the module was (1) duplicative of information gathered via other means during the encounter; (2) specific enough to be useful and/or acted upon, and; (3) useful for enough patients to warrant time spent reviewing it for all geriatric patients. Secondary considerations included level of integration of the HRQL and EHR, impact on nursing workflow, and patient reluctance to provide HRQL information. Conclusions Health-related quality of life modules within electronic health record systems offer the potential benefit of improving patient centeredness and quality of care. However, the modules must provide benefits that are substantial and prominent in order for physicians to decide that they are worthwhile and sustainable. Implications of this study for future research include the identification of perceived "costs" as well as a foundation for operationalizing the concept of "usefulness" in the context of such modules. Finally, developers of these modules may need to make their products customizable for practices to account for variation in EHR capabilities and practice workflows.
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Resource type
  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
Rights holder
  • Christopher M Shea et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
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Journal title
  • BMC Health Services Research
Journal volume
  • 12
Journal issue
  • 1
Page start
  • 67
Language
  • English
Is the article or chapter peer-reviewed?
  • Yes
ISSN
  • 1472-6963
Bibliographic citation
  • BMC Health Services Research. 2012 Mar 19;12(1):67
Publisher
  • BioMed Central Ltd
Access right
  • Open Access
Date uploaded
  • August 23, 2012

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