An integrated graphic scheme for the display of insulin prescription and blood glucose information.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine whether use of an integrated graphic scheme for the display of insulin prescription and blood glucose information has an impact on simulated decision-making in clinical practice.


METHODS
Five test cases representing patients treated with multiple daily insulin regimens were selected from a database of stored blood glucose readings. Five endocrinologists made treatment recommendations based on review of aggregated readings and corresponding insulin prescriptions. Twenty subjects were randomized to complete two sets of sequential real-time data management exercises. One set focused on evaluation of insulin prescriptions and readings printed as entries in logbooks. The other focused on evaluation of displays of insulin doses and readings plotted out according to an integrated graphic scheme of representation.


RESULTS
Subjects were more likely to make correct decisions in four out of five test cases after reviewing displays. Subjects were less likely to make incorrect decisions in all of five test cases after reviewing displays. Completion times were 30-66% shorter for exercises involving review of displays.


CONCLUSIONS
An integrated graphic scheme that associates representations of insulin doses with metaphor graphic displays of aggregated blood glucose readings may facilitate decisionmaking in clinical practice.
Kim
Matthew I
MI
Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Health Sciences Informatics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. mkima@mail.jhmi.edu
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin