Table 1.

Providers’ expectations versus experience in each of the following items as a burden during the study of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS)

Degree to which each item would be a burden	EXPECTATION E-prescribers who expected item to be a ‘large inconvenience’ n (%)	EXPERIENCE E-prescribers who rated item a ‘large inconvenience’ during the study n (%)	p Value†
A. Carry a token or flash drive with electronic signature to authenticate and send all controlled substances rx (n=57)**	19 (33.3)	6 (10.5)	0.007
B. Keep the token in possession at all times (n=58)***	26 (44.8)	6 (10.3)	<0.001
C. Report lost or stolen token within 12 h (n=58)**	18 (31.0)	4 (6.9)	0.001
D. Computer prescribing screen timing out after brief period of inactivity, I would have to re-enter the password (n=60)***	25 (41.7)	12 (20.0)	0.001
E. Not able to use personal electronic device (must use laptop or desktop) (n=57)**	10 (17.5)	2 (3.5)	0.008
F. Authenticate identity in person one time, when receiving security token (n=58)*	11 (19.0)	3 (5.2)	0.039

n=70 total EPCS users with at least one prescription transmitted electronically.

Difference between expectations and experience significant at *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.

†McNemar's test of paired proportions with continuity correction.