An assessment tool for medical informatics skills

Abstract

Computing has developed slowly in British general medical practice, and the impact on patient care has yet to be fully evaluated. There is an acknowledged need for further training in informatics. This article describes a tool for assessing recommended medical informatics skills. The tool is based on self-scoring of 15 skills on a matrix questionnaire. A survey of 115 GPs generated 86 responses with a useful spread of scores. Individuals can use their results to identify their learning needs. The tool should be valuable in planning and evaluating informatics training. Further analysis of matrix skills is planned using a larger survey. Copyright © 2004 SAGE Publications.