title: Uptake of a web-based oncology protocol system: how do cancer clinicians use eviQ cancer treatments online?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of computerized systems to support evidence-based practice is commonplace in contemporary medicine. Despite the prolific use of electronic support systems there has been relatively little research on the uptake of web-based systems in the oncology setting. Our objective was to examine the uptake of a web-based oncology protocol system (http://www.eviq.org.au) by Australian cancer clinicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used web-logfiles and Google Analytics to examine the characteristics of eviQ registrants from October 2009-December 2011 and patterns of use by cancer clinicians during a typical month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As of December 2011, there were 16,037 registrants; 85% of whom were Australian health care professionals. During a typical month 87% of webhits occurred in standard clinical hours (08:00 to 18:00 weekdays). Raw webhits were proportional to the size of clinician groups: nurses (47% of Australian registrants), followed by doctors (20%), and pharmacists (14%). However, pharmacists had up to three times the webhit rate of other clinical groups. Clinicians spent five times longer viewing chemotherapy protocol pages than other content and the protocols viewed reflect the most common cancers: lung, breast and colorectal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate eviQ is used by a range of health professionals involved in cancer treatment at the point-of-care. Continued monitoring of electronic decision support systems is vital to understanding how they are used in clinical practice and their impact on processes of care and patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Langton
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pesa
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rushton
authors.forename: Robyn L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Sallie-Anne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'