Improving Pediatric Prescribing Practices with Evidence-Based Support
Author Information
Author(s): Davis Robert L, Wright Jeffrey, Chalmers Francie, Levenson Linda, Brown Julie C, Lozano Paula, Christakis Dimitri A
Primary Institution: University of Washington School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Can a computerized decision support system improve prescribing practices for common pediatric conditions in a primary care setting?
Conclusion
The use of a point-of-care evidence-based prescription writer significantly improved prescribing practices for common pediatric outpatient conditions.
Supporting Evidence
- The intervention group improved prescribing behavior by 4%, while the control group improved by only 1%.
- The adjusted difference in behavior change between the intervention and control groups was 8%.
- The study showed that the intervention's effectiveness did not decrease over time.
Takeaway
Doctors used a special computer system that gave them helpful information while writing prescriptions, which made them better at choosing the right medicine for kids.
Methodology
A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with pediatric providers receiving evidence-based prompts during electronic prescribing.
Potential Biases
Providers may have been influenced by their previous training and experiences in academic settings.
Limitations
The study had a small number of providers and many practiced in academic settings, limiting generalizability to nonacademic practices.
Participant Demographics
36 providers at a teaching clinic and 8 providers at a private pediatric clinic, primarily serving a rural and semi-urban patient mix.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1%, 15%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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