Title
Prescribers' interactions with medication alerts at the point of prescribing: A multi-method, in situ investigation of the human-computer interaction.
Abstract
Few studies have examined prescribers' interactions with medication alerts at the point of prescribing. We conducted an in situ, human factors investigation of outpatient prescribing to uncover factors that influence the prescriber-alert interaction and identify strategies to improve alert design.Field observations and interviews were conducted with outpatient prescribers at a major Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Physicians, clinical pharmacists, and nurse practitioners were recruited across five primary care clinics and eight specialty clinics. Prescribers were observed in situ as they ordered medications for patients and resolved alerts. Researchers collected 351 pages of typed notes across 102 hours of observations and interviews. An interdisciplinary team identified emergent themes via inductive qualitative analysis.Altogether, 320 alerts were observed among 30 prescribers and their interactions with 146 patients. Qualitative analysis uncovered 44 emergent themes and 9 overarching factors, which were organized into a framework that describes the prescriber-alert interaction. Prescribers' ability to act on alerts was impeded by the alert interface, which did not adequately support all prescriber types.This empiric study produced a novel framework for understanding the prescriber-alert interaction. Results revealed key components of the alert interface that influence prescribers and indicate a need for more universal design. Actionable design recommendations are presented and may be used to enhance alert design and patient safety.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2012.01.002
International Journal of Medical Informatics
Keywords
Field
DocType
Medication alert systems,Human factors engineering,CPOE,Electronic prescribing,Medication errors
Specialty,Clinical pharmacy,Nursing,Electronic prescribing,Patient safety,Human factors and ergonomics,Universal design,Knowledge management,Primary care,Veterans Affairs,Medical emergency,Medicine
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
81
4
1386-5056
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
19
1.26
13
Authors
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Alissa L Russ114716.47
Alan J. Zillich2366.32
M. Sue McManus3332.77
Bradley N Doebbeling418625.45
Jason J Saleem516619.20