Context Developers of health care software have attributed improvements in patient
care to these applications. As with any health care intervention, such claims
require confirmation in clinical trials.
Objectives To review controlled trials assessing the effects of computerized clinical
decision support systems (CDSSs) and to identify study characteristics predicting
benefit.
Data Sources We updated our earlier reviews by searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane
Library, Inspec, and ISI databases and consulting reference lists through
September 2004. Authors of 64 primary studies confirmed data or provided additional
information.
Study Selection We included randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials that evaluated
the effect of a CDSS compared with care provided without a CDSS on practitioner
performance or patient outcomes.
Data Extraction Teams of 2 reviewers independently abstracted data on methods, setting,
CDSS and patient characteristics, and outcomes.
Data Synthesis One hundred studies met our inclusion criteria. The number and methodologic
quality of studies improved over time. The CDSS improved practitioner performance
in 62 (64%) of the 97 studies assessing this outcome, including 4 (40%) of
10 diagnostic systems, 16 (76%) of 21 reminder systems, 23 (62%) of 37 disease
management systems, and 19 (66%) of 29 drug-dosing or prescribing systems.
Fifty-two trials assessed 1 or more patient outcomes, of which 7 trials (13%)
reported improvements. Improved practitioner performance was associated with
CDSSs that automatically prompted users compared with requiring users to activate
the system (success in 73% of trials vs 47%; P = .02)
and studies in which the authors also developed the CDSS software compared
with studies in which the authors were not the developers (74% success vs
28%; respectively, P = .001).
Conclusions Many CDSSs improve practitioner performance. To date, the effects on
patient outcomes remain understudied and, when studied, inconsistent.