title: Clinical decision support must be useful, functional is not enough: a qualitative study of computer-based clinical decision support in primary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health information technology, particularly electronic decision support systems, can reduce the existing gap between evidence-based knowledge and health care practice but professionals have to accept and use this information. Evidence is scant on which features influence the use of computer-based clinical decision support (eCDS) in primary care and how different professional groups experience it. Our aim was to describe specific reasons for using or not using eCDS among primary care professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The setting was a Finnish primary health care organization with 48 professionals receiving patient-specific guidance at the point of care. Multiple data (focus groups, questionnaire and spontaneous feedback) were analyzed using deductive content analysis and descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The content of the guidance is a significant feature of the primary care professional's intention to use eCDS. The decisive reason for using or not using the eCDS is its perceived usefulness. Functional characteristics such as speed and ease of use are important but alone these are not enough. Specific information technology, professional, patient and environment features can help or hinder the use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary care professionals have to perceive eCDS guidance useful for their work before they use it.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, 33014, Finland. tiina.kortteisto@uta.fi
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kortteisto
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Komulainen
authors.forename: Marjukka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kunnamo
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaila
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires