This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Treweek, S. P. Articles by Penrose, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Treweek, S. P. Articles by Penrose, A.

Computer-generated Patient Education Materials: Do They Affect Professional Practice?

A Systematic Review

Affiliations of the authors: Department of Health Services Research, Oslo, Norway (SPT, CG, ADO); Wairau Hospital, Blenheim, New Zealand (AP).

Correspondence and reprints: Shaun P. Treweek, PhD, Department of Health Services Research, Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Welfare, P.O. Box 8054 Dep, N-0031 Oslo, Norway; e-mail: <streweek{at}online.no>.

A systematic search of seven electronic databases was done to identify randomized controlled trials that assessed the effect of computer-generated patient education material (PEM) on professional practice. Three studies met the authors' criteria.

All three studies involved preventive care. All used a complex intervention of which computer-generated PEM was a major component. Improvements in practice were seen in all studies, although these gains were generally modest. One study showed improvement in patient outcomes. Mann-Whitney statistics calculated for the studies' outcome measures ranged from 0.48 to 0.66, equivalent to risk differences of -4 to 32 percent.

Computer-generated PEM seems to have a small, positive effect on professional practice. The small number of included studies and the complex nature of the interventions makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the ability of computer-generated PEM to change professional practice. Future work should involve well-defined interventions that can be clearly evaluated in terms of effect and cost.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. A Grindrod, P. Patel, and J. E Martin What Interventions Should Pharmacists Employ to Impact Health Practitioners' Prescribing Practices? Ann. Pharmacother., September 1, 2006; 40(9): 1546 - 1557. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]