Coupling computer-interpretable guidelines with a drug-database through a web-based system--The PRESGUID project.
BACKGROUND
Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) available today are not extensively used due to lack of proper integration into clinical settings, knowledge-related information resources, and lack of decision support at the point of care in a particular clinical context.


OBJECTIVE
The PRESGUID project (PREScription and GUIDelines) aims to improve the assistance provided by guidelines. The project proposes an online service enabling physicians to consult computerized CPGs linked to drug databases for easier integration into the healthcare process.


METHODS
Computable CPGs are structured as decision trees and coded in XML format. Recommendations related to drug classes are tagged with ATC codes. We use a mapping module to enhance computerized guidelines coupling with a drug database, which contains detailed information about each usable specific medication. In this way, therapeutic recommendations are backed up with current and up-to-date information from the database.


RESULTS
Two authoritative CPGs, originally diffused as static textual documents, have been implemented to validate the computerization process and to illustrate the usefulness of the resulting automated CPGs and their coupling with a drug database. We discuss the advantages of this approach for practitioners and the implications for both guideline developers and drug database providers. Other CPGs will be implemented and evaluated in real conditions by clinicians working in different health institutions.
Dufour
Jean-Charles
JC
Laboratoire d'Enseignement et de Recherche en Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France. jean-charles.dufour@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Fieschi
Dominique
D
Fieschi
Marius
M
D003196:Computer Graphics / Q000639:trends; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000639:trends*; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000639:trends*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012984:Software