Abstract
BackgroundPrimary care provides an opportunity to introduce prevention strategies and identify risk behaviours. Algorithmic information technology such as the Risk Factor Identification Tool (RFIT) can support primary care counseling. This study explores the integration of the tablet-based RFIT in primary care clinics to support exploration of patient risk factor information.MethodsQualitative study to explore patients’ perspectives of RFIT. RFIT was implemented in two primary care clinics in Manitoba, Canada. There were 207 patients who completed RFIT, offered to them by eight family physicians. We conducted one-on-one patient interviews with 86 patients to capture the patient’s perspective. Responses were coded and categorized into five common themes.ResultsRFIT had a completion rate of 86%. Clinic staff reported that very few patients declined the use of RFIT or required assistance to use the tablet. Patients reported that the tablet-based RFIT provided a user-friendly interface that enabled self-reflection while in the waiting room. Patients discussed the impact of RFIT on the patient-provider interaction, utility for the clinician, their concerns and suggested improvements for RFIT. Among the patients who used RFIT 12.1% smoked, 21.2% felt their diet could be improved, 9.3% reported high alcohol consumption, 56.4% reported less than 150 min of PA a week, and 8.2% lived in poverty.ConclusionRFIT is a user-friendly tool for the collection of patient risk behaviour information. RFIT is particularly useful for patients lacking continuity in the care they receive. Information technology can promote self-reflection while providing useful information to the primary care clinician. When combined with practical tools and resources RFIT can assist in the reduction of risk behaviours.
Highlights
Primary care provides an opportunity to introduce prevention strategies and identify risk behaviours
Analyzing Risk Factor Identification Tool (RFIT) and interview responses, complemented with the clinic’s experience, this study describes the use of RFIT and resulting primary prevention counselling at family practice clinics
We found that only 15% of patients reported that RFIT led to the discussion of a risk behaviour
Summary
Primary care provides an opportunity to introduce prevention strategies and identify risk behaviours. Algorithmic information technology such as the Risk Factor Identification Tool (RFIT) can support primary care counseling. This study explores the integration of the tablet-based RFIT in primary care clinics to support exploration of patient risk factor information. Primary prevention strategies aim to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and decrease substance use to prevent associated morbidity and premature death [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Patient-centered health risk assessments have a positive impact on primary prevention, [24] a recent study found that less than half of patient records had documentation of physical activity in the patient’s chart [27]
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