Methods Inf Med 1993; 32(02): 167-174
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634912
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Work-Sampling: A Statistical Approach to Evaluation of the Effect of Computers on Work Patterns in Healthcare

D. F. Sittig
1   Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
08 February 2018 (online)

Abstract:

An increasing number of health-care institutions are in the process of implementing clinical computing systems. The need for an accurate assessment of the clinical, administrative, social, and financial effects of such systems has been recognized. Techniques have been developed to evaluate these effects on the work patterns of health-care workers including: time-motion analysis, subjective evaluations, review of departmental statistics, personal activity records, and work-sampling. This study reviews these techniques, discusses both positive and negative aspects, and presents a step-by-step description of work-sampling.

 
  • REFERENCES

  • 1 Matheson NW, Cooper JAD. Academic information in the health sciences center: Roles for the library and information management. J Med Educ 1982; 57: 1-93.
  • 2 West RT. The National Library of Medicine’s IAIMS grant program: Experiences and futures. J Am Soc Info Sci 1988; 39: 142-5.
  • 3 Stead WW, Bird WP, Califf RM. et al. IAIMS: Transition from model testing to implementation. MD Computing. 1993 (in press).
  • 4 Stead WW, Baker W, Harris TR, Hodges TM, Sittig DF. A fast track to IAIMS: The Vanderbilt University strategy. In: Frisse ME. ed. Proceeding 16th Symp Comp Appl Med Care. 1992. 16 527-31.
  • 5 Miller RA, Patil R, Mitchell JA. et al. Preparing a medical informatics research grant proposal: General principles. Comp Biomed Res 1989; 22: 92-101.
  • 6 Hendrickson G, Kovner CT. Effects of computers on nursing resource use: Do computers save nurses time?. Comp Nurs 1990; 08: 16-22.
  • 7 Dick RS, Steen EB. eds. The Computer-based Patient Record. Washington DC: National Academy Press; 1991
  • 8 Miller PL, Sittig DF. The evaluation of clinical decision support systems: What is necessary vs. What is interesting. Med Inform 1990; 15: 185-90.
  • 9 Tippett LHC. Statistical methods in textile research. Uses of the binomial and Poisson distributions: A snap reading method of making time studies of machines and operatives in factory surveys. J Textile Inst Trans 1935; 26: 51-5.
  • 10 Abdellah FG, Levine E. Work-sampling applied to the study of nursing personnel. Nurs Res 1954; 03: 11-6.
  • 11 Garrett LE, Hammond WE, Stead WW. The effects of computerized medical records on provider efficiency and quality of care. Meth Inform Med 1986; 25: 151-7.
  • 12 Minda S. Manual and Computer Recorded Nursing Assessment: A Comparison of Time Required and the Number of Observations Made (Master’s Thesis). Department of Nursing, Duke University School of Nursing; Durham NC: 1990
  • 13 Andrews RD, Gardner RM. Portable computers used for respiratory care charting. Int J Clin Monit Comp 1988; 05: 45-51.
  • 14 Feinstein AR. Scientific standards in epidemiologic studies of the menace of daily life. Science 1988; 242: 1257-63.
  • 15 Andrews RD, Gardner RM, Metcalf SM, Simmons D. Computer charting: An evaluation of a respiratory care computer system. Resp Care 1985; 30: 695-707.
  • 16 Fields A. Activity sampling. In: Method Study. London: Cassell; 1969. chapter 13..
  • 17 Barnes RM. Motion and Time Study: Design and Measurement of Work. 6th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley; 1968. chapter 32..
  • 18 Johnson DS, Burkes M, Sittig DF, Hinson D, Pryor TA. Evaluation of the effects of computerized nurse charting. In: Stead WW. Proceedings 11th Symp Comp Appl Med Care. Washington DC: 1987: 363-7.
  • 19 Karger DW, Bayha FH. Engineered Work Measurement. 2nd ed. New York, NY: The Industrial Press; 1966
  • 20 Nickman NA, Guerrero RM, Bair JN. Self-reported work-sampling methods for evaluating pharmaceutical services. Am J Hosp Pharm 1990; 47: 1611-7.
  • 21 Bradshaw KE, Sittig DF, Gardner RM, Pryor TA, Budd M. Computer-based data entry for nurses in the ICU. MD Comp 1989; 06: 274-80.
  • 22 Niebel BW. Motion and Time Study. Homewood, IL: Richard D Irwin Inc; 1967
  • 23 Davis H. A mathematical evaluation of a work sampling technique. Nav Res Log Quart 1955; 02: 111-7.
  • 24 Kohout TW, Broekemeier RL, Daniels CE. Work-sampling evaluation of an upgraded outpatient pharmacy computer system. Am J Hosp Pharm 1983; 40: 606-8.
  • 25 Larkin JA. Work Study. New York NY: McGraw-Hill; 1969
  • 26 Wang X. The Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Computerized Anesthesia Charting System (Ph D Dissertation). Department of Medical Informatics. University of Utah; Salt Lake City UT: 1990
  • 27 Mamlin JJ, Baker DH. Combined time-motion and work-sampling study in general medicine clinic. Med Care 1973; 11: 449-56.
  • 28 Rascati KL, Kimberlin CL. Foley PT, Williams RB. Multidimensional work sampling to evaluate the effects of computerization in an outpatient pharmacy. Am J Hosp Pharm 1987; 44: 2060-7.
  • 29 Tolbert SH, Pertuz AE. Study shows how computerization affects nursing activities in ICU. Nursing 1977; 51: 79-84.
  • 30 Mayo E. The Human Problems of an Industrial Civilization. New York NY: Viking Press; 1960: 65-7.
  • 31 Budd MC, Blaufuss J, Harada S. Nursing: A revenue center not a cost center. Comp Healthcare. 1988 Nov 24-6..
  • 32 Payson HE, Gaenslen EC, Stargardter FL. Time study of an internship on a university medical service. New Engl J Med 1961; 264: 439-43.