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Computerized clinical decision support systems: how effective are they?

Implementation Science

Computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) match the characteristics of patients to a computerized medical knowledge base and provide recommendations to clinicians for consideration. Proponents of CCDSSs claim that they help with the accuracy and consistency of clinical decisions and so improve the process of care and the outcomes of patients. Such claims are similar to those of other health interventions â€“ both drugs and devices â€“ and, in our view, ought to be tested to the same standard as other health claims, namely, in rigorous trials that minimize bias. Many such trials exist and the pace of publication is increasing. We sought to summarize the results of these trials. The detailed methods for our systematic review have been previously published here

This series assesses the effects of CCDSSs on the process of care and the outcomes of patients for 6 domains of clinical practice: Primary prevention; Diagnostic test ordering; Drug ordering; Therapeutic drug monitoring; Acute care; Chronic disease management.

This collection of articles has not been sponsored and articles have undergone the journal’s standard peer review process.

View all collections published in Implementation Science

  1. The use of computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) may improve chronic disease management, which requires recurrent visits to multiple health professionals, ongoing disease and treatment monito...

    Authors: Pavel S Roshanov, Shikha Misra, Hertzel C Gerstein, Amit X Garg, Rolf J Sebaldt, Jean A Mackay, Lorraine Weise-Kelly, Tamara Navarro, Nancy L Wilczynski and R Brian Haynes
    Citation: Implementation Science 2011 6:92
  2. Acute medical care often demands timely, accurate decisions in complex situations. Computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) have many features that could help. However, as for any medical interv...

    Authors: Navdeep Sahota, Rob Lloyd, Anita Ramakrishna, Jean A Mackay, Jeanette C Prorok, Lorraine Weise-Kelly, Tamara Navarro, Nancy L Wilczynski and R Brian Haynes
    Citation: Implementation Science 2011 6:91
  3. Some drugs have a narrow therapeutic range and require monitoring and dose adjustments to optimize their efficacy and safety. Computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) may improve the net benefit...

    Authors: Robby Nieuwlaat, Stuart J Connolly, Jean A Mackay, Lorraine Weise-Kelly, Tamara Navarro, Nancy L Wilczynski and R Brian Haynes
    Citation: Implementation Science 2011 6:90
  4. Computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) for drug therapy management are designed to promote safe and effective medication use. Evidence documenting the effectiveness of CCDSSs for improving dru...

    Authors: Brian J Hemens, Anne Holbrook, Marita Tonkin, Jean A Mackay, Lorraine Weise-Kelly, Tamara Navarro, Nancy L Wilczynski and R Brian Haynes
    Citation: Implementation Science 2011 6:89
  5. Underuse and overuse of diagnostic tests have important implications for health outcomes and costs. Decision support technology purports to optimize the use of diagnostic tests in clinical practice. The object...

    Authors: Pavel S Roshanov, John J You, Jasmine Dhaliwal, David Koff, Jean A Mackay, Lorraine Weise-Kelly, Tamara Navarro, Nancy L Wilczynski and R Brian Haynes
    Citation: Implementation Science 2011 6:88
  6. Computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) are claimed to improve processes and outcomes of primary preventive care (PPC), but their effects, safety, and acceptance must be confirmed. We updated o...

    Authors: Nathan M Souza, Rolf J Sebaldt, Jean A Mackay, Jeanette C Prorok, Lorraine Weise-Kelly, Tamara Navarro, Nancy L Wilczynski and R Brian Haynes
    Citation: Implementation Science 2011 6:87