Results were inconsistent for changes in CVD risk factors such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure , total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and hemoglobin A1C levels .
CONCLUSIONS CDSSs are effective in improving clinician practice s related to screening and other preventive care services , clinical tests , and treatments .
CONTEXT Clinical decision support systems ( CDSSs ) can help clinicians assess cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk and manage CVD risk factors by providing tailored assessment s and treatment recommendations based on individual patient data .
The goal of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of CDSSs in improving screening for CVD risk factors , practice s for CVD-related preventive care services such as clinical tests and prescribed treatments , and management of CVD risk factors .
A Randomized Trial of Computerized Reminders for Blood Pressure Screening in Primary Care
In a r and omized , controlled trial ( N = 8,298 ) the authors compared three ways of encouraging patients in a large family practice to obtain a blood pressure check . Working from computerized medical records at a teaching familymedicine center , the study included patients aged 18 years and over who had not had a blood pressure measurement during the previous year . In a normalcare control group , 21.1 % of those due for a blood pressure reading obtained one during the trial year . In one intervention group , a computer-generated message reminded the doctor to check the  blood pressure of patients who happened to visit the center for an appointment ; 30.7 % of patients allocated to this group were checked . In the second group , the nurse contacted patients by telephone and encouraged 24.1 % of those who were due for a check to obtain one . Sending a letter to patients in the third group yielded a 35.7 % compliance rate . Considering the costs of the three interventions , the physician reminder was the most cost effective , followed by the letter reminder . Although statistically significant , the impact of the reminders was modest . A better approach might involve a combination of routine reminders to the physician , followed by letters to noncompliant patients
Results were inconsistent for changes in CVD risk factors such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure , total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and hemoglobin A1C levels .
CONCLUSIONS CDSSs are effective in improving clinician practice s related to screening and other preventive care services , clinical tests , and treatments .
CONTEXT Clinical decision support systems ( CDSSs ) can help clinicians assess cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk and manage CVD risk factors by providing tailored assessment s and treatment recommendations based on individual patient data .
The goal of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of CDSSs in improving screening for CVD risk factors , practice s for CVD-related preventive care services such as clinical tests and prescribed treatments , and management of CVD risk factors .