Among CVRM patients , the results tended towards a beneficial effect of CDSS , but only LDL-c target attainment in diabetes patients reached statistical significance .
Prompting , integration into the electronical health record , patient empowerment , and medication support were related to more effective CVRM .
Conclusion We did not find a clear clinical benefit from CDSS in cardiovascular risk factor levels and target attainment .
Some features of CDSS seem more promising than others .
Clinical relevance of CDSS in CVRM might additionally be sought in the improvement of shared decision making and patient empowerment
Background Cardiovascular risk management ( CVRM ) is notoriously difficult because of multi-morbidity and the different phenotypes and severities of cardiovascular disease .
Computerized decision support systems ( CDSS ) enable the clinician to integrate the latest scientific evidence and patient information into tailored strategies .
The effect on cardiovascular risk factor management is yet to be confirmed .
Effectiveness of electronic guideline-based implementation systems in ambulatory care settings - a systematic review
Background Electronic guideline -based decision support systems have been suggested to successfully deliver the knowledge embedded in clinical practice guidelines . A number of studies have already shown positive findings for decision support systems such as drug-dosing systems and computer-generated reminder systems for preventive care services . Methods A systematic literature search ( 1990 to December 2008 ) of the English literature indexed in the Medline data base , Embase , the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials , and CRD ( DARE , HTA and NHS EED data bases ) was conducted to identify evaluation studies of electronic multi-step guideline implementation systems in ambulatory care setting s. Important inclusion criterions were the multidimensionality of the guideline ( the guideline needed to consist of several aspects or steps ) and real-time interaction with the system during consultation . Clinical decision support systems such as one-time reminders for preventive care for which positive findings were shown in earlier review s were excluded . Two comparisons were considered : electronic multidimensional guidelines versus usual care ( comparison one ) and electronic multidimensional guidelines versus other guideline implementation methods ( comparison two ) . Results Twenty-seven publications were selected for analysis in this systematic review . Most design s were cluster r and omized controlled trials investigating process outcomes more than patient outcomes . With success defined as at least 50 % of the outcome variables being significant , none of the studies were successful in improving patient outcomes . Only seven of seventeen studies that investigated process outcomes showed improvements in process of care variables compared with the usual care group ( comparison one ) . No incremental effect of the electronic implementation over the distribution of paper versions of the guideline was found , neither for the patient outcomes nor for the process outcomes ( comparison two ) . Conclusions There is little evidence at the moment for the effectiveness of an increasingly used and commercialised instrument such as electronic multidimensional guidelines . After more than a decade of development of numerous electronic systems , research on the most effective implementation strategy for this kind of guideline -based decision support systems is still lacking . This conclusion implies a considerable risk towards inappropriate investments in ineffective implementation interventions and in suboptimal care
Among CVRM patients , the results tended towards a beneficial effect of CDSS , but only LDL-c target attainment in diabetes patients reached statistical significance .
Prompting , integration into the electronical health record , patient empowerment , and medication support were related to more effective CVRM .
Conclusion We did not find a clear clinical benefit from CDSS in cardiovascular risk factor levels and target attainment .
Some features of CDSS seem more promising than others .
Clinical relevance of CDSS in CVRM might additionally be sought in the improvement of shared decision making and patient empowerment
Background Cardiovascular risk management ( CVRM ) is notoriously difficult because of multi-morbidity and the different phenotypes and severities of cardiovascular disease .
Computerized decision support systems ( CDSS ) enable the clinician to integrate the latest scientific evidence and patient information into tailored strategies .
The effect on cardiovascular risk factor management is yet to be confirmed .