Patient's perceptions of an anesthesia preoperative computerized patient interview.

Our desire to elicit a more complete medical history from our patients ledto the implementation of a preoperative computerized interview. We previouslydemonstrated the effectiveness of the interview by computing its meancompletion time for the overall patient population (n= 120), andfurther examined the effects of age, gender, and educational level. In thisstudy, we investigated patient perception of the interview itself. Before andafter taking the computer interview, we asked the patients to complete a paperand pencil questionnaire comprised of sixteen questions, expressing theirfeelings toward the computer interview. Responses elicited prior to taking thecomputer interview were compared with those obtained afterward. TheStuart–Maxwell test was used to determine statistically significantdifferences in answers before and after the interview. Initial questionnaireresponses reflected a positive attitude toward computer usage which becameeven stronger after the interview. The only negative responses elicited werereally more “doctor positive” than “computernegative.” We conclude that patients looked favorably upon participatingin a computerized medical interview provided that physician–patientcontact is maintained.