title: Group Decision Support System applied to the medical pluri-disciplinary decision group: usability and efficacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to study whether the application of a Group Decision Support System to medical collective decision committees is possible and to determine which GDSS specifications are convenient.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  We introduce the common knowledge about GDSS and define the process of the collective medical decision.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental GDSS has been tested in an actual medical collective decision committee. A usability analysis has been performed to precise usability and acceptability of the system and to highlight pro and cons of the various functionalities of the GDSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Information sharing was conveniently supported by the GDSS. All the documents were available for the support of the discussion. But, the introduction of a GDSS in the decision committee added new constraints such as the necessity of an excellent preparation phase. Limits of the system have been revealed: lack of feedback on decision actors, lack of support to obtain the consensus and lack of memorisation. According to these results, we have proposed new GDSS features to improve the decision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a GDSS supporting the medical collective decision is realistic and may support the process of the consensual decision.
authors.affiliation: CERIM-EVALAB - EA2694 - Faculté de Médecine - Université de Lille2 - Lille (France).
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Degardin-Capon
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bricon-Souf
authors.forename: Marie-Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Beuscart-Zephir
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beuscart
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D005103:Expert Systems; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D010348:Patient Care Team