Using Activity Theory and Task Structure Charts to Model Patient-Introduced Online Health Information into the Family Physician/Patient Examination Process

Abstract

This research study was undertaken to gain a richer understanding of the use of patient-introduced online health information during the physician/patient examination and communication process. Utilizing qualitative data obtained from ten family physician interviews and workflow modeling of the data using activity diagrams and task structure charts, this study uncovered the frequency of patient-introduced online health information, physician suggested online resources, use of email for physician/patient communication, use of electronic medical records, along with tasks involved and methods used by the physicians to work the online health information into the physician/patient examination and knowledge transfer process.