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A diabetes dashboard and physician efficiency and accuracy in accessing data needed for high-quality diabetes care.

Koopman RJ, Kochendorfer KM, Moore JL, Mehr DR, Wakefield DS, Yadamsuren B, Coberly JS, Kruse RL, Wakefield BJ, Belden JL. A diabetes dashboard and physician efficiency and accuracy in accessing data needed for high-quality diabetes care. Annals of Family Medicine. 2011 Sep 1; 9(5):398-405.

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Abstract:

PURPOSE: We compared use of a new diabetes dashboard screen with use of a conventional approach of viewing multiple electronic health record (EHR) screens to find data needed for ambulatory diabetes care. METHODS: We performed a usability study, including a quantitative time study and qualitative analysis of information-seeking behaviors. While being recorded with Morae Recorder software and "think-aloud" interview methods, 10 primary care physicians first searched their EHR for 10 diabetes data elements using a conventional approach for a simulated patient, and then using a new diabetes dashboard for another. We measured time, number of mouse clicks, and accuracy. Two coders analyzed think-aloud and interview data using grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: The mean time needed to find all data elements was 5.5 minutes using the conventional approach vs 1.3 minutes using the diabetes dashboard (P < .001). Physicians correctly identified 94% of the data requested using the conventional method, vs 100% with the dashboard (P < .01). The mean number of mouse clicks was 60 for conventional searching vs 3 clicks with the diabetes dashboard (P < .001). A common theme was that in everyday practice, if physicians had to spend too much time searching for data, they would either continue without it or order a test again. CONCLUSIONS: Using a patient-specific diabetes dashboard improves both the efficiency and accuracy of acquiring data needed for high-quality diabetes care. Usability analysis tools can provide important insights into the value of optimizing physician use of health information technologies.




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