HOW DO DESK-TOP COMPUTERS AFFECT THE DOCTOR-PATIENT INTERACTION

General practice consultations were video-recorded before and after th e introduction of a desk-top computer system into the practice. The re cordings were analysed by detailed qualitative scrutiny of tape and tr ancripts (conversation analysis) to discover regular patterns of inter action. This analysis confirmed that the introduction of computers int o the consultation had a significant impact on the communication betwe en patient and doctor. In particular, we found that computer technolog y has had an impact on the practitioners' conduct and on the disclosur e of information by the patient. The analysis also points to some reco mmendations both for training general practitioners in the use of comp uterized systems in the consultation, and for the (re)design of the te chnologies themselves.