Clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients: a matter of natural course and adequate timing
Abstract Background Drug-related problems (DRPs) and potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) are associated with adverse patient and health care outcomes. In the setting of hospitalized older patients, Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) could reduce PIP and therefore improve clinical outc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04823-7 |
| _version_ | 1797259036133949440 |
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| author | NA Zwietering AEMJH Linkens D Kurstjens PHM van der Kuy N van Nie-Visser BPA van de Loo KPGM Hurkens B Spaetgens |
| author_facet | NA Zwietering AEMJH Linkens D Kurstjens PHM van der Kuy N van Nie-Visser BPA van de Loo KPGM Hurkens B Spaetgens |
| author_sort | NA Zwietering |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Drug-related problems (DRPs) and potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) are associated with adverse patient and health care outcomes. In the setting of hospitalized older patients, Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) could reduce PIP and therefore improve clinical outcomes. However, prior research showed a low proportion of adherence to CDSS recommendations by clinicians with possible explanatory factors such as little clinical relevance and alert fatigue. Objective To investigate the use of a CDSS in a real-life setting of hospitalized older patients. We aim to (I) report the natural course and interventions based on the top 20 rule alerts (the 20 most frequently generated alerts per clinical rule) of generated red CDSS alerts (those requiring action) over time from day 1 to 7 of hospitalization; and (II) to explore whether an optimal timing can be defined (in terms of day per rule). Methods All hospitalized patients aged ≥ 60 years, admitted to Zuyderland Medical Centre (the Netherlands) were included. The evaluation of the CDSS was investigated using a database used for standard care. Our CDSS was run daily and was evaluated on day 1 to 7 of hospitalization. We collected demographic and clinical data, and moreover the total number of CDSS alerts; the total number of top 20 rule alerts; those that resulted in an action by the pharmacist and the course of outcome of the alerts on days 1 to 7 of hospitalization. Results In total 3574 unique hospitalized patients, mean age 76.7 (SD 8.3) years and 53% female, were included. From these patients, in total 8073 alerts were generated; with the top 20 of rule alerts we covered roughly 90% of the total. For most rules in the top 20 the highest percentage of resolved alerts lies somewhere between day 4 and 5 of hospitalization, after which there is equalization or a decrease. Although for some rules, there is a gradual increase in resolved alerts until day 7. The level of resolved rule alerts varied between the different clinical rules; varying from > 50–70% (potassium levels, anticoagulation, renal function) to less than 25%. Conclusion This study reports the course of the 20 most frequently generated alerts of a CDSS in a setting of hospitalized older patients. We have shown that for most rules, irrespective of an intervention by the pharmacist, the highest percentage of resolved rules is between day 4 and 5 of hospitalization. The difference in level of resolved alerts between the different rules, could point to more or less clinical relevance and advocates further research to explore ways of optimizing CDSSs by adjustment in timing and number of alerts to prevent alert fatigue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:03:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d63aec4ef82a4205809ca67f63237ed1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:03:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-d63aec4ef82a4205809ca67f63237ed12024-03-17T12:37:41ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182024-03-012411910.1186/s12877-024-04823-7Clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients: a matter of natural course and adequate timingNA Zwietering0AEMJH Linkens1D Kurstjens2PHM van der Kuy3N van Nie-Visser4BPA van de Loo5KPGM Hurkens6B Spaetgens7Department of Geriatric Medicine, Laurentius HospitalDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus Medical CentreDepartment of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Zuyderland Medical CentreDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus Medical CentreSenior Project Manager, Innovation and Funding (Scientific Research), Zuyderland Medical CentreDigitalis Rx BVDepartment of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Zuyderland Medical CentreDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section Geriatric Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center and Cardiovascular Research Institute MaastrichtAbstract Background Drug-related problems (DRPs) and potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) are associated with adverse patient and health care outcomes. In the setting of hospitalized older patients, Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) could reduce PIP and therefore improve clinical outcomes. However, prior research showed a low proportion of adherence to CDSS recommendations by clinicians with possible explanatory factors such as little clinical relevance and alert fatigue. Objective To investigate the use of a CDSS in a real-life setting of hospitalized older patients. We aim to (I) report the natural course and interventions based on the top 20 rule alerts (the 20 most frequently generated alerts per clinical rule) of generated red CDSS alerts (those requiring action) over time from day 1 to 7 of hospitalization; and (II) to explore whether an optimal timing can be defined (in terms of day per rule). Methods All hospitalized patients aged ≥ 60 years, admitted to Zuyderland Medical Centre (the Netherlands) were included. The evaluation of the CDSS was investigated using a database used for standard care. Our CDSS was run daily and was evaluated on day 1 to 7 of hospitalization. We collected demographic and clinical data, and moreover the total number of CDSS alerts; the total number of top 20 rule alerts; those that resulted in an action by the pharmacist and the course of outcome of the alerts on days 1 to 7 of hospitalization. Results In total 3574 unique hospitalized patients, mean age 76.7 (SD 8.3) years and 53% female, were included. From these patients, in total 8073 alerts were generated; with the top 20 of rule alerts we covered roughly 90% of the total. For most rules in the top 20 the highest percentage of resolved alerts lies somewhere between day 4 and 5 of hospitalization, after which there is equalization or a decrease. Although for some rules, there is a gradual increase in resolved alerts until day 7. The level of resolved rule alerts varied between the different clinical rules; varying from > 50–70% (potassium levels, anticoagulation, renal function) to less than 25%. Conclusion This study reports the course of the 20 most frequently generated alerts of a CDSS in a setting of hospitalized older patients. We have shown that for most rules, irrespective of an intervention by the pharmacist, the highest percentage of resolved rules is between day 4 and 5 of hospitalization. The difference in level of resolved alerts between the different rules, could point to more or less clinical relevance and advocates further research to explore ways of optimizing CDSSs by adjustment in timing and number of alerts to prevent alert fatigue.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04823-7Medication reviewDrug-related problemsClinical Decision Support System (CDSS)Older patientsPotentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) |
| spellingShingle | NA Zwietering AEMJH Linkens D Kurstjens PHM van der Kuy N van Nie-Visser BPA van de Loo KPGM Hurkens B Spaetgens Clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients: a matter of natural course and adequate timing BMC Geriatrics Medication review Drug-related problems Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Older patients Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) |
| title | Clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients: a matter of natural course and adequate timing |
| title_full | Clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients: a matter of natural course and adequate timing |
| title_fullStr | Clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients: a matter of natural course and adequate timing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients: a matter of natural course and adequate timing |
| title_short | Clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients: a matter of natural course and adequate timing |
| title_sort | clinical decision support system supported interventions in hospitalized older patients a matter of natural course and adequate timing |
| topic | Medication review Drug-related problems Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Older patients Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04823-7 |
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