An experience in creating a men's health electronic registry in a primary care setting

• Objective: To evaluate the ability of nurses and patients to use a personal digital assistant (PDA) to enter pertinent medical information in a primary care setting. • Patients and setting: All male patients 18 years of age or older visiting a general internal medicine clinic for a new patient or annual visit with the 1 participating study physician. • Project description: During the patient's clinic visit, nurses used a PDA and a specially designed data collection form to enter answers to 8 questions related to patient demographics and vital signs and then presented the PDA to the patient in the examination room. Prior to the physician's arrival, patients used the PDA to privately answer 21 questions, including a medical/social history, the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) survey, and questions regarding their ability to use and their satisfaction with the PDA survey. • Results: A total of 142 men participated (mean age, 57.3 ± 14 years, 79% white, 16% African American), and 85% were able to complete the survey in 10.5 ± 7.6 minutes. Patients completing the survey (n = 120) were more educated (84% college or beyond versus 53%; P = 0.003) and younger (52 years versus 67 years; P = 0.004) than those unable to complete. At least 1 medical condition was self-reported in 56% of the patients, with 43% of these patients also having erectile dysfunction (ED) as defined by a SHIM score of ≤ 21. Sixty-four percent of patients reported that the electronic survey made it easier to discuss ED with their physician, and 97% would complete a future electronic survey. • Conclusion: Nurse- and patient-driven data entry using PDAs in a primary care setting to address sensitive medical topics was accepted favorably by patients, with minimal impact on clinical operations.