Patient appreciations of computerized medical interviews.

In a research project on the automation of patient histories, 99 patients in internal medicine were questioned about their opinions on computerized medical records, after having answered an automated questionnaire. Patients were very positive on being able to express their medical complaints and the large majority found it useful (94%); 68% could express all or most of their complaints, but some of their physical complaints could not be entered (47% women against 25% men). Of the male patients 74% found the range of answers from which to choose sufficient, against 52% of the women. The printed report was positively rated, with a higher appreciation by men.