A SURVEY OF PHYSICIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD COMPUTER-BASED DIAGNOSTIC SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Purpose: Computer-based diagnostic support systems (DSS) have been shown to reduce medication errors and treatment costs (Bates et al., 1998, Tierney et al., 1996), aid in diagnosis (Corey & Merenstien, 1987), and assist in preventative medicine (Dexter et al., 2001).  While a large number of physicians have access to computer-based DSS, many physicians do not use all functions of the system (Simon et al., 2007). The purpose of this study was to explore individual differences in physicians’ willingness to employ computer-based DSS.

Methods: 59 physicians in several different domains of medicine completed an online survey.  The survey contained demographic information, classification (med student, intern, resident, or practicing physician), years in practice, and several individual difference measures including comfort/familiarity with computers, attitudes toward statistics, and willingness to employ a computer-based DSS. 

Results: The vast majority of physicians believed computer-based DSS are extremely useful or very useful in keeping patient records (52.5% and 39% respectively).  76% believed computer-based DSS should be employed in both general practice and specialty areas of medicine.  However, there was a large amount of variability in the physicians’ likelihood of using a computer-based diagnostic aid with most of the sample indicating that they were either somewhat likely (25.4%) or somewhat unlikely (22%) to use such a tool.  In contrast, 74.6% were extremely likely to use a computer-based DSS as an information tool (e.g. pharmacology data).  Furthermore, neither familiarity with computers nor the Internet were related to physicians’ likelihood of using a diagnostic aid or information system.  Attitudes toward statistics had a modest, but nonsignificant, relationship with likelihood of diagnostic aid use (r =0.13); confidence in individual diagnostic ability was not related to willingness to employ a computer-based DSS.

Conclusions: Physicians believe DSS to be beneficial both in general and specialized medicine; however, they are more willing to use computer-based DSS as information systems rather than diagnostic tools.  In addition, confidence in one’s diagnostic ability, computer use, Internet use, and attitude toward statistics play no major role in a physician’s willingness to use computer-based DSS.