Dilemmas in introducing World Wide Web-based information technology in primary care: a focus group study

BACKGROUND: When implementing a computer-based decision support system forany disease group in a primary health care centre, success will depend onthe introductory efforts put into the project. The users must have plentyof information, above all regarding what can and what cannot be done by thecomputer-based decision support system. A personal introduction including apersonal instruction session in front of the computer is imperative.Different aspects of technical maturity of the system must be met.Communication within and outside of the local net must be stable. METHODS:Using a designated focus group methodology, we studied the introduction ofadvanced information technology in primary care by applying aninter/intranet decision support system for ambulatory ear, nose and throatdiagnostics using a World Wide Web tool at the Skanninge health centre inOstergotland, Sweden. CONCLUSIONS: A computer-based decision support systemof the kind studied here may after a refinement period have all thequalities asked for by the users, and this study can be used as part of auser- developer dialogue for a future system.