Computers in primary care

Abstract

General practitioners are increasingly using computers for practice administration but information technology has had little impact on clinical practice. There is now increasing emphasis in primary health care on screening and prevention and this suggests potential clinical applications for computers. Self-administered computerized assessments for psychiatric disorder have been developed and they could have a role in screening and in providing standardized assessments, which in turn could provide the basis for clinical guidelines for the management of neurotic disorder in primary care.