title: Physicians' reported needs of drug information at point of care in Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Relevant and easily accessible drug information at point-of-care is essential for physicians' decision making when prescribing. However, the information available by using Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) often does not meet physicians' requirements. The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) is statutory information about drugs. However, the current structure, content and format of SmPCs make it difficult to incorporate them into CDSSs and link them to relevant patient information from the Electronic Health Records. The aim of the study was to evaluate the perceived needs for drug information among physicians in Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited three focus group discussions with 18 physicians covering different specialities. The information from the groups was combined with a questionnaire administered at the beginning of the group discussions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physicians reported their needs for knowledge databases at the point of drug prescribing. This included more consistent information about existing and new drugs. They also wished to receive automatically generated alerts for severe drug-drug interactions and adverse effects, and to have functions for calculating glomerular filtration rate to enable appropriate dose adjustments to be made for elderly patients and those with impaired renal function. Additionally, features enhancing electronic communication with colleagues and making drug information more searchable were suggested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from the current study showed the need for knowledge databases which provide consistent information about new and existing drugs. Most of the required information from physicians appeared to be possible to transfer from current SmPCs to CDSSs. However, inconsistencies in the SmPC information have to be reduced to enhance their utility.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Medical Knowledge, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden. pia.bastholm-rahmner@sll.se
authors.forename: Pia Bastholm
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Rahmner
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eiermann
authors.forename: Seher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Lars L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruvén
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Eichle
authors.forename: Anikó
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vég
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000592:standards*; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden