Cognitive Differences in Chart Reading: A Comparison of Nurses and Physicians

Authors

Todd R. Johnson, University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Health Information Sciences
Vimla L. Patel, Columbia University, Departments of Medical Informatics and Psychiatry
James P. Turley, University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Health Information Sciences

Publication Date

2001

Journal

Proc AMIA Symp. 2001; 940

Abstract

This pilot study compares the mental models of a patient constructed by nurses and physicians while reading an electronic medical record. Preliminary results suggest that the participants' summaries were both quantitatively and qualitatively different. The physician made more inferences and focused on deeper relationships in the record, whereas the nurse focused on the descriptive surface structure of the record.

Keywords

Retinal Perforatoins/physiopathology, Visual Acuity/physiology

Comments

PMCID: PMC2243266