Introduction: Anesthesia information management systems are rapidly gaining widespread acceptance. Aggressively promoted as an improvement to manual-entry recordkeeping systems in the areas of accuracy, quality improvement, billing and vigilance, these systems record all patient vital signs and parameters, providing a legible hard copy and permanent electronic record. At risk is a potential loss of "connectedness" to the patient with the use of computerized recordkeeping, perhaps jeopardizing vigilance. Methods: This research analyzed differences in the accuracy of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists' (CRNAs) recall of specific patient variables during the course of an actual anesthetic case. CRNAs using computerized recordkeeping systems were compared to CRNAs using manual entry recordkeeping. Accuracy of recalled values of 10 patient variables was measured--highest and lowest heart rate, systolic blood pressure, inspiratory pressure, and end-tidal carbon dioxide levels, lowest oxygen saturation and total fluid volume. In addition, a filmed educational vignette was presented to evaluate any effect on accuracy of recall following this presentation. Four tertiary care facilities participated in this research. A Solomon four-group research design was selected to control for the effect of pretesting on results of the filmed educational treatment. Results: 214 subjects participated in this study; 106 in the computerized recordkeeping group, and 108 in the manual entry recordkeeping group. Demographic covariates were analyzed to ensure homogeneity between groups and facilities. No significant statistical differences were identified between the accuracy of recall among the groups. There was no statistically significant effect of the educational film vignette on accuracy of recall. Conclusions: There was no difference in the accuracy of practitioners' recall of patient variables when using computerized or manual entry recordkeeping systems, suggesting little impact on vigilance. The educational film presented did not have an effect on accuracy of recall following the discussion of benefits and limitations of methods of recordkeeping. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]