Title: A Comparison of a Paper-based Clinical Guideline and a Decision Support System for the Management of Community Acquired Pneumonia
Abstract: To compare the construction of a paper-based guideline to that of an evidence-based decision model we followed the development of a paper-based guideline at a major teaching hospital. Qualitative and quantitative models for decision analysis were developed from this guideline. Decision analysis models provide a dynamic and flexible alternative to paper-based guidelines. They enable evidence-based medicine to be applied in most instances (limited by only by the information available), are simple to update in comparison to paper-based guidelines and suffer less bias. Through review of the literature we identified that reporting of data in community acquired pneumonia (CAP) studies is inadequate for evidence-based medicine including decision analysis studies. More complete data via access to original data sets or by minimum standards of data reporting is required. Paper-based guidelines for the treatment of CAP have been shown to cut length of stay and cost, however they have no effect on mortality. An evidence-based decision support system, modeled with dependence of predictive factors in mind may provide the tool to reduce this mortality, along with cost, while considering patient utility. This remains to be assessed.
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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