Factors affecting the manual linking of clinical progress notes to problems in daily clinical practice: A retrospective quantitative analysis and cross sectional survey

Abstract

This cross sectional study examines how patient characteristics, doctor characteristics, and doctors’ education and attitudes affect the extent to which doctors link progress notes to clinical problems. The independent effects of patient characteristics on the linking of notes was examined with a mixed model logistic regression. The effects of doctor characteristics and doctors’ education and attitudes on the link ratio was analyzed with univariate analysis of variance. A survey was used to obtain arguments and attitudes on linking notes. For “patient characteristics”, the odds of linking increased with an increase in the number of problems or hospital days, decreased, with an increase in the number of involved doctors, medical specialties or the number of notes. For “doctor characteristics”, the link ratio increased with more work experience. For “doctors’ education and attitudes”, the link ratio increased with more familiarity in linking notes and belief in the added value of problem oriented charting. “Overview” was the most cited reason for linking; “I don’t know how” the most cited reason for not linking. There is a huge variation within and between all disciplines. Important arguments, for and against, are found. Recommendations for policymakers and medical leadership are given to maximize the benefits.