Table 1 Description and evaluation of the clinical decision support system for empirical antibiotic therapy (following the identified reporting criteria by Rawson et al. [8])
Description of decision support tool | |
Type of decision support provided | Antibiotic (empirical) prescribing Dose optimization Duration of therapy Route of administration |
Platform on which it is provided | Web-based |
Infrastructure | Rule-based |
System development | |
Rationale for development | Makes it easy to do right by generating patient specific antibiotic advices, based on relevant guidelines Decreasing the risk of overlooking a relevant parameter in antibiotic prescribing Stakeholders were involved in the development of the system with the use of a usability study. Diagnoses were included in the system on request of stakeholders |
Previous feasibility/pilot testing | A usability study was performed to assess the interaction between the system and user. With this study we also assessed whether the generated advices would be followed and identified potential negative outcomes/errors |
Evidence supporting evaluation | A usability study provides detailed insight into usability problems experienced by end-users of the system. It also provides insight in the causes of identified problems |
How the tool is implemented | A demonstration was given before implementation The use of the CDSS was regularly promoted by visiting departments. Medical pocket cards were developed as promotional material for the system An active infectious disease consultancy service system is provided in the hospital where the CDSS is implemented. ID consultants were instructed to remind physicians to use the CDSS |
Study design | |
Justification for study design | Descriptive/observational study. This study design is selected to describe the use of the developed CDSS and adoption of its recommendations |
Outcome measure selection | Evaluation of the adoption of generated advices |