Using Health Information Technology to Support Population-Based Clinical Practice

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Project Details -
Completed

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) represent a major burden to the health care delivery system and the public's health. The overuse of antibiotics for viral infections has contributed to the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance and a substantial number of adverse drug events. As a result, preventing the overuse of antibiotics is a national priority area for research.

This project’s aim was to improve providers' ability to distinguish viral infections from bacterial infections by providing physicians and patients with timely, accessible information about the local incidence of common respiratory viruses through the use of a population health repository and decision support tools. Specifically, the project: 1) assessed primary care clinician use of current population-based ARI health information resources and decision support tools using focus groups and structured observation, 2) refined decision support tools to improve clinical information system workflow integration and patient communication, 3) implemented these decision support tools in primary and urgent care settings, and 4) measured the effects of the tools on population-based clinical practice and patient/parent compliance. The goal of these interventions was to increase the effectiveness and appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing for ARI.

This study addressed important gaps in the knowledge of patient and provider population-based health information needs, and the data and information technology tools required to fill these gaps. The lessons learned during the course of developing, implementing, and evaluating the impact of population-health and decision support tools for acute respiratory infection led to contributions in this priority research area and improvements in integrating decision support tools into health care practices.