Authors: Nagykaldi, Zsolt¹; Calmbach, Walter²; DeAlleaume, Lauren³; Temte, Jonathan⁴; Mold, James⁵; Ryan, John G.⁶

Source: Informatics in Primary Care, Volume 18, Number 1, April 2010 , pp. 9-16(8)

Publisher: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd.

Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this project was to develop and test information technology implementations that could assist patients with influenza self-management in primary care settings. Although testing was conducted in the context of seasonal influenza, the project aimed to develop a blueprint that primary care practices could use in an influenza pandemic.

Methods: Four primary care practice-based research networks (PBRNs) systematically designed, implemented, tailored and tested a tiered patient self-management technology model in 12 primary care practices during the peak of the 2007 to 2008 influenza season. Participating clinicians received a customised practice website that included a bilingual influenza self-triage module, a downloadable influenza toolkit and electronic messaging capability. As an alternative option, a bilingual, interactive seasonal influenza telephone hotline that patients could call for assistance was provided.

Results: Influenza self-management web pages presented via nine customised practice websites received 1060 hits between February and April of 2008. The Self-management Influenza Toolkit was downloaded 76 times and 185 Influenza Self-Triage Module sessions were completed via practice websites during the course of testing. Logs of the telephony hotline indicated 88 calls between February and April 2008. Seventy-two percent of callers had influenza-like symptoms and 18% were eligible for antiviral therapy. The Spanish language option was selected by 21% of callers. Qualitative feedback from 37 patients (29 English and 8 Spanish) and six clinicians from four PBRNs indicated ease of use, problem-free access and navigation, useful and adequate information that was utilised in various ways by patients and a high level of overall satisfaction with these technologies. Both patients and clinicians provided rich and meaningful feedback about future improvements.

Conclusions: Primary care patients and their clinicians can adopt and successfully utilise influenza self-management technologies. Our pilot study suggests that web resources combined with telephony technology are feasible to set up and easy to use in primary care settings.

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Keywords: INFLUENZA; PANDEMIC; PREPAREDNESS; PRIMARY CARE; TECHNOLOGY

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Oklahoma Physicians Resource/Research Network, Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA 2: South Texas Ambulatory Research Network, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA 3: State Networks of Colorado Ambulatory Practices and Partners, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Colorado, USA 4: Wisconsin Research and Education Network, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Department of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, USA 5: Director of Research Division, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, USA 6: South Florida Practice-Based Research Network, Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Miami Leonard M Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA

Publication date: 2010-04-01

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