Morgan Price1. 1. Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. priceless@familymed.ubc.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether Palm Prevention, a free software tool for Palm OS personal digital assistants (PDAs) that provides quick access to preventive guidelines in a patient-specific manner at the point of care, improved adherence to five preventive measures in primary care. DESIGN: Prospective intervention pilot study. SETTING: Vancouver, BC, and surrounding area. PARTICIPANTS: Eight general practitioners. INTERVENTIONS: Each physician used Palm Prevention for five preventive measures during routine preventive health visits with 10 patients (n = 80). Charts of consenting patients were reviewed for documentation of recommended maneuvers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of adherence to five evidence-based guidelines selected from the Canadian and American task forces on preventive care and incorporated into Palm Prevention. RESULTS: Intervention and control physicians were similar in their familiarity with and use of PDAs, and they recruited similar patients for the study. Intervention and control groups had similar rates of screening for hypertension. Intervention improved adherence to the remaining four guidelines: cervical cancer screening increased 22% (only absolute increases are reported); hyperlipidemia screening increased 30%; colorectal cancer screening increased 27%; and prophylaxis with acetylsalicylic acid in high-risk patients increased 38%. Participants were surveyed after the study; all reported that they found the software helpful and would continue using Palm Prevention. Usage statistics showed that study participants used the tool outside the trial: users entered between 28 and 68 unique patients into the program during the 2-month intervention. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests PDAs are useful in improving preventive care and facilitating translation of knowledge into practice. This was particularly apparent with newer guidelines.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether Palm Prevention, a free software tool for Palm OS personal digital assistants (PDAs) that provides quick access to preventive guidelines in a patient-specific manner at the point of care, improved adherence to five preventive measures in primary care. DESIGN: Prospective intervention pilot study. SETTING: Vancouver, BC, and surrounding area. PARTICIPANTS: Eight general practitioners. INTERVENTIONS: Each physician used Palm Prevention for five preventive measures during routine preventive health visits with 10 patients (n = 80). Charts of consenting patients were reviewed for documentation of recommended maneuvers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of adherence to five evidence-based guidelines selected from the Canadian and American task forces on preventive care and incorporated into Palm Prevention. RESULTS: Intervention and control physicians were similar in their familiarity with and use of PDAs, and they recruited similar patients for the study. Intervention and control groups had similar rates of screening for hypertension. Intervention improved adherence to the remaining four guidelines: cervical cancer screening increased 22% (only absolute increases are reported); hyperlipidemia screening increased 30%; colorectal cancer screening increased 27%; and prophylaxis with acetylsalicylic acid in high-risk patients increased 38%. Participants were surveyed after the study; all reported that they found the software helpful and would continue using Palm Prevention. Usage statistics showed that study participants used the tool outside the trial: users entered between 28 and 68 unique patients into the program during the 2-month intervention. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests PDAs are useful in improving preventive care and facilitating translation of knowledge into practice. This was particularly apparent with newer guidelines.
Authors: Sandra Fischer; Thomas E Stewart; Sangeeta Mehta; Randy Wax; Stephen E Lapinsky Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2003 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Elizabeth A McGlynn; Steven M Asch; John Adams; Joan Keesey; Jennifer Hicks; Alison DeCristofaro; Eve A Kerr Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2003-06-26 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Gibril J Njie; Krista K Proia; Anilkrishna B Thota; Ramona K C Finnie; David P Hopkins; Starr M Banks; David B Callahan; Nicolaas P Pronk; Kimberly J Rask; Daniel T Lackland; Thomas E Kottke Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2015-11 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Jeff D Overington; Yao C Huang; Michael J Abramson; Juliet L Brown; John R Goddard; Rayleen V Bowman; Kwun M Fong; Ian A Yang Journal: J Thorac Dis Date: 2014-11 Impact factor: 2.895
Authors: Carrie N Klabunde; David Lanier; Erica S Breslau; Jane G Zapka; Robert H Fletcher; David F Ransohoff; Sidney J Winawer Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2007-05-30 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Anna M Lindquist; Pauline E Johansson; Göran I Petersson; Britt-Inger Saveman; Gunilla C Nilsson Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2008-10-28 Impact factor: 5.428