Abstract
Background For complex patients with chronic conditions, electronic health records (EHRs) contain
large amounts of relevant historical patient data. To use this information effectively,
clinicians may benefit from visual information displays that organize and help them
make sense of information on past and current treatments, outcomes, and new treatment
options. Unfortunately, few clinical decision support tools are designed to support
clinical sensemaking.
Objective The objective of this study was to describe a decision-centered design process, and
resultant interactive patient information displays, to support key clinical decision
requirements in chronic noncancer pain care.
Methods To identify key clinical decision requirements, we conducted critical decision method
interviews with 10 adult primary care clinicians. Next, to identify key information
needs and decision support design seeds, we conducted a half-day multidisciplinary
design workshop. Finally, we designed an interactive prototype to support the key
clinical decision requirements and information needs uncovered during the previous
research activities.
Results The resulting Chronic Pain Treatment Tracker prototype summarizes the current treatment
plan, past treatment history, potential future treatments, and treatment options to
be cautious about. Clinicians can access additional details about each treatment,
current or past, through modal views. Additional decision support for potential future
treatments and treatments to be cautious about is also provided through modal views.
Conclusion This study designed the Chronic Pain Treatment Tracker, a novel approach to decision
support that presents clinicians with the information they need in a structure that
promotes quick uptake, understanding, and action.
Keywords
electronic health records and systems - clinical decision support - data visualization
- ambulatory care/primary care - cognition
