Student Ability, Confidence, and Attitudes Toward Incorporating a Computer into a Patient Interview.

OBJECTIVE: To improve pharmacy students' ability to effectively incorporate a computer into a simulated patient encounter and to improve their awareness of barriers and attitudes towards and their confidence in using a computer during simulated patient encounters.
DESIGN: Students completed a survey that assessed their awareness of, confidence in, and attitudes towards computer use during simulated patient encounters. Students were evaluated with a rubric on their ability to incorporate a computer into a simulated patient encounter. Students were resurveyed and reevaluated after instruction. ASSESSMENT: Students improved in their ability to effectively incorporate computer usage into a simulated patient encounter. They also became more aware of and improved their attitudes toward barriers regarding such usage and gained more confidence in their ability to use a computer during simulated patient encounters.
CONCLUSION: Instruction can improve pharmacy students' ability to incorporate a computer into simulated patient encounters. This skill is critical to developing efficiency while maintaining rapport with patients.