Review of Computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems in Acute Care
Author Information
Author(s): Sahota Navdeep, Lloyd Rob, Ramakrishna Anita, Mackay Jean A, Prorok Jeanette C, Weise-Kelly Lorraine, Navarro Tamara, Wilczynski Nancy L, Brian Haynes R
Primary Institution: McMaster University
Hypothesis
Do CCDSSs improve process of care or patient outcomes for acute medical care?
Conclusion
The majority of CCDSSs demonstrated improvements in process of care, but patient outcomes were less likely to be evaluated and far less likely to show positive results.
Supporting Evidence
- 63% of studies showed improvement in process of care outcomes.
- 15% of studies reported improvements in patient outcomes.
- Studies were diverse in CCDSS design and clinical settings.
- Most studies evaluated process of care effects rather than patient outcomes.
Takeaway
This study looked at computer systems that help doctors make better decisions in emergency care. Most of these systems helped improve how care was given, but they didn't always help patients feel better.
Methodology
A systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating CCDSSs in acute medical care.
Potential Biases
Studies where authors were also developers of the CCDSSs may overestimate the effectiveness due to potential bias.
Limitations
Many studies did not report relevant data or had insufficient data for analysis, and few evaluated patient-important outcomes.
Participant Demographics
Involved over 3,417 healthcare practitioners and 202,491 patients across various clinical settings.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 5.7 to 7.2
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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