%0 Journal Article
%T Improving Patient¨CProvider Communication and Therapeutic Practice Through Better Integration of Electronic Health Records in the Exam Room: A Pilot Study
%A Alyssa Smith
%A Harvey Leo
%A Kai Zheng
%A Minal R. Patel
%A Wei Hao
%J Health Education & Behavior
%@ 1552-6127
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1090198118796879
%X Background. The rapid proliferation of electronic health records (EHRs) in clinics has had mixed impact on patient-centered communication, yet few evaluated interventions exist to train practicing providers in communication practices. Aims. We extended the evidence-based Physician Asthma Care Education (PACE) program with EHR-specific communication strategies, and tested whether training providers with the extended program (EHR-PACE) would improve provider and patient perceptions of provider communication skills and asthma outcomes of patients. Method. A pilot randomized design was used to compare EHR-PACE with usual care. Participants were providers (n = 18) and their adult patients with persistent asthma (n = 126). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 3- and 6-month postintervention, including patient perception of their provider¡¯s communication skills and provider confidence in using EHRs during clinical encounters. Results. Compared with the control group, providers who completed the EHR-PACE program reported significant improvements at 3-month follow-up in their confidence with asthma counseling practices (estimate 0.90, standard error [SE] 0.4); p < .05) and EHR-specific communication practices (estimate 2.3, SE 0.8; p < .01), and at 6-month follow-up, a significant decrease in perception that the computer interferes with the patient¨Cprovider relationship (estimate £¿1.0, SE 0.3; p < .01). No significant changes were observed in patient asthma outcomes or their perception of their provider¡¯s communication skills. Discussion. Training providers with skills to accommodate EHR use in the exam room increases provider confidence and their perceived skills in maintaining patient-centered communications in the short term. Conclusion. Evidence-supported training initiatives that can increase capacity of busy providers to manage increased computing demands shows promise. More research is needed to fully evaluate EHR-PACE on patients¡¯ health status and their perceptions of their provider¡¯s care through a large-scale trial
%K asthma management
%K electronic health records
%K patient¨Cprovider communication
%K provider education
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1090198118796879