Features predicting the success of computerized decision support for prescribing: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background

Clinical Decision Support (CDSS) have the potential to enhance the quality of healthcare with the main goal of providing high quality services that can improve patients outcomes. Resources used by clinicians should always be evidence-based medicine in order to provide transformational health care services.

Introduction

A systematic review was conducted to evaluate features predicting successful implementation of CDSS, change in clinicians behavior, and improvement in patient outcomes.

Methods

The databases Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and INSPEC were searched for articles published since the earliest entry to June 2008; The titles were reviewed and researchers kept those matching their definition of CDSS. In order to determine if studies met the inclusion criteria abstracts were assess independently by different reviewers. Study outcomes were. Three different domains of focus were assessed to measure study outcomes: Implementation, change in clinician behavior and change in patient outcomes. Researchers considered an implementation a successful one if the CDSS was successfully introduced and implemented by the clinical staff. To consider a change in clinicians behavior it was necessary to have a reduction in inappropriate prescribing or implement a more cost-effective therapy. Finally, to consider a successful improvement in patient outcomes researchers just took in consideration those studies that reported improvements in patients' health such as decreases in mortality and morbidity.