title: [Comparative study of an expert system application in the prescription of medications].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a expert drug system implementation on the drug prescription habits and on drug cost in an university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 3 months period, the drug prescriptions to patients admitted to the Internal medicine, lung, gastroenterology and hepatology units, have been evaluated through the expert drug system (Medisource). This expert drug system functions in according to patients characteristics such as age, weight, height, sex, renal function and liver function. It recommends the correct dose, detects interactions and adverse effects and makes suggestions in pregnancy and lactation. It also offers alternative drugs with their cost. During the study period physicians were unaware of the investigation being performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  836 patients (63.9 +/- 16.5 years) with an average hospital stay length of 11.6 +/- 6.7 days were studied. The most common diagnoses were: lung obstructive chronic disease, cirrhosis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage and cancer. The total amount of drug prescribed was 6,308. The expert system detected 458 overdosages and 33 underdosages, mainly in antibiotics and antiulcer drugs, and 1,722 interactions. The drug costs reduction that could be obtained following the expert system recommendations was 4.5% in antibiotic drugs and 23% in antiulcer drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of drug overdosage and underdosage in patients admitted in an university hospital is relatively high. The expert systems available for drug decisions could solve this problem.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Barcelona.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Codina
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corominas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuset
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: del Cacho
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massó
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004347:Drug Interactions; D062787:Drug Overdose; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D005103:Expert Systems; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
vernacular_title: Estudio comparativo de la aplicación de un sistema experto en la prescripción de medicamentos.