Patient's perceptions of an anesthesia preoperative computerized patient interview

Our desire to elicit a more complete medical history from our patients led to the implementation of a preoperative computerized interview. We previous ly demonstrated the effectiveness of the interview by computing its mean co mpletion time for the overall patient population (n = 120), and further exa mined the effects of age, gender, and educational level. In this study, we investigated patient perception of the interview itself. Before and after t aking the computer interview, we asked the patients to complete a paper and pencil questionnaire comprised of sixteen questions, expressing their feel ings toward the computer interview. Responses elicited prior to taking the computer interview were compared with those obtained afterward. The Stuart- Maxwell test was used to determine statistically significant differences in answers before and after the interview. Initial questionnaire responses re flected a positive attitude toward computer usage which became even stronge r after the interview. The only negative responses elicited were really mor e "doctor positive" than "computer negative." We conclude that patients loo ked favorably upon participating in a computerized medical interview provid ed that physician-patient contact is maintained.