Is population-oriented IT supported preventive care in general practice feasible? A database study.
BACKGROUND
Introducing a clinical decision support system (CDSS) in general practice that provides broad support based on all available guidelines for preventive care might dramatically increase the workload of a general practitioner.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the potential effect on workload of a CDSS that aims to support the whole breadth of preventive guidelines currently used in The Netherlands.


METHODS
We analysed the guidelines of the Dutch college of General Practitioners (DCGP) for preventive activities, developed a CDSS based on the guidelines and studied the behaviour of the system on real patient data.


RESULTS
20 of the 87 DCGP guidelines contained data on preventive activities which was incorporated in the system. Out of 485,793 patients, the system indicated that for 138,885 (28.6%) a preventive action was needed.


CONCLUSIONS
A CDSS that aims to support the whole breadth of preventive activities in general practice will have a substantial effect on workload. Further tailoring of the support will be needed.
van Wyk
Jacobus T
JT
Department of Medical Informatics, ErasmusMC University Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.vanwyk@erasmusmc.nl
Mosseveld
B
B
van der Lei
J
J
D016208:Databases, Factual; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000592:standards*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000592:standards*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000592:standards*