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An empirical study of Internet usage and difficulties among medical practice management in the UK

An empirical study of Internet usage and difficulties among medical practice management in the UK Considers the use of information technology in the UK National Health Service (NHS) as the government pledges to connect every doctor or general practitioner (GP) to the NHS's information superhighway by the year 2002. This paper uses a case study of a particular UK health authority as a vehicle to illustrate the complexity of the social and technical considerations surrounding this issue. At a grass roots level, the adoption and diffusion of information technology within general practices (surgeries or groups of GPs) is highly varied and there are huge contrasts in the levels of commitment to information management. Within the case study this is evident on an individual level, in that some GPs enthuse about technology, while others are positively "technophobic". On the general practice level, there are other elements to consider, especially in relation to the levels of financial support available. Non-fund holding general practices in socially deprived areas are far less willing to embrace information management and technology. One explanation suggested for this is based on priorities: when faced with the option of "cruising" the information superhighway, as opposed to treating seriously ill patients living in socially deprived areas, the former may simply be relegated as less important. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Internet Research Emerald Publishing

An empirical study of Internet usage and difficulties among medical practice management in the UK

Debra Howcroft; Nathalie Mitev
Internet Research , Volume 10 (2): 12 – May 1, 2000
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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 MCB UP Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISSN
1066-2243
DOI
10.1108/10662240010322957
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Considers the use of information technology in the UK National Health Service (NHS) as the government pledges to connect every doctor or general practitioner (GP) to the NHS's information superhighway by the year 2002. This paper uses a case study of a particular UK health authority as a vehicle to illustrate the complexity of the social and technical considerations surrounding this issue. At a grass roots level, the adoption and diffusion of information technology within general practices (surgeries or groups of GPs) is highly varied and there are huge contrasts in the levels of commitment to information management. Within the case study this is evident on an individual level, in that some GPs enthuse about technology, while others are positively "technophobic". On the general practice level, there are other elements to consider, especially in relation to the levels of financial support available. Non-fund holding general practices in socially deprived areas are far less willing to embrace information management and technology. One explanation suggested for this is based on priorities: when faced with the option of "cruising" the information superhighway, as opposed to treating seriously ill patients living in socially deprived areas, the former may simply be relegated as less important.

Journal

Internet Research – Emerald Publishing

Published: May 1, 2000

Keywords: Health authorities; Internet

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