From Fatigue to Efficiency: Nicki Newton on CDS System Acceptance

Clinical decision support (CDS) systems offer many opportunities to improve patient care, but they often are not designed or implemented with users in mind, contributing to low use in practice. My PhD research explores how clinicians’ acceptance and use of CDS develops and changes over time, filling a gap in our current understanding.

My image presents a graphical abstract of my research, including the key factors that influence clinicians’ use of CDS from early implementation through to long-term use. These factors were identified through a systematic review and interviews with clinicians, health service managers and vendors.

Understanding and addressing these factors at the point in time they matter most is likely to be a more feasible and effective approach to increasing use of CDS in practice. Using interviews, surveys and CDS usage data, we are continuing to explore one key factor identified, alert fatigue, and how it can best be addressed over time.

This image was a collaboration between Nicki and scientific communication specialists Graphics et al. as part of a DHCRC visual communication initiative.