Clinical decision support system

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Clinical (or Diagnostic) Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are interactive computer programs that directly assist physicians and other health professionals with decision making tasks. These fall under the class of Decision support systems within medical informatics. CDSS offer a powerful medical informatics tool that can promote evidence based medicine.

Why do we need such systems at all? If diagnosis becomes the job of the computer program, what will the doctors do? Such questions overlook the key term support - i.e., they are intended to support the clinician, rather than replace them. Computers are not error or fatigue prone like human beings; however, computers may cause harm through other faults.[1][2][3][4]

In medical diagnosis, there is scope for ambiguity in the inputs, such as the history (patient’s description of the diseased condition), physical examinations (especially in cases of uncooperative or less intelligent patients), and laboratory tests (faulty methods or equipment). Moreover, in treatment, there are the chance of drug reactions and specific allergies, and also of patients' non-compliance of the therapy due to cost or time or adverse reactions. All these factors may not be taken into account by a busy clinician attending hundreds of patients daily.

In all these areas, computers can help the clinician to reach an accurate diagnosis faster. Another new branch of medicine pharmacogenomics is the product of breeding between information technology and biology, leading to individualized treatment.

The basic components of a CDSS include a dynamic (medical) knowledge base and an inference mechanism (usually a set of rules derived from the experts and from the data provided by evidence-based medicine). It may be based on Expert systems or artificial neural networks or both (Connectionist expert systems) - all of which can be loosely termed as Artificial intelligence - AI - techniques.

CDSS may be linked to Electronic health records, for decision making and can also be used for assisting the practice of Evidence-based medicine (EBM) in a more structured way.

The role of even an apparently simple search by Google in making diagnoses has been quantified.[5]

Methods of the underlying decision making process

Various methods are used to created the automated decisions.[6]

Knowledge based systems / expert systems

Knowledge-based expert systems are created by having experts use the biomedical literature to identify relationships between independent variables (such as signs and symptoms) and dependent variables (such as likely underlying diseases). Sometimes, local hospital information, such as rates of surgical complications, may be incorporate.[7] These relationships become predefined rules in the form of {if-else if-then} to guide the decision making. Rules may also be obtained by various forms of decision trees (e.g., Iterative Dichotomizer or ID variants) or Bayesian networks.

Rule-based CDSS are the ones that are mostly found in the commercially available clinical informatics applications. Alerts for allergies and possible drug interactions, prompts for drug doses corrected for weight, height, sex, age and underlying clinical condition are the ones that are most commonly touted as CDSS. Arden Syntax was designed and developed as a product-independent syntax for codifying these alerts. Examples of rule-based systems are:

  1. Logical or deductive: branching logic (e.g., ID3 or iterative dichotomizer 3); e.g., MYCIN, NEOMYCIN[8]
  2. Probabilistic: Bayesian systems weight probabilities rather than use binary options as done be logical systems.[9] An example is DXplain.[10]
  3. Hybrid: heuristic reasoning e.g., QMR (Quick Medical Reference), ILIAD[11], ISABEL[12][13]. Hueristic methods may perform better for uncommon diseases.[14]

The critical difficulty in constructing rule-based expert systems for medical decision support has been in recruiting experts with domain knowledge to create the knowledge base and train the system. Training expert systems is time-consuming, and has only produced usable results in narrowly-scoped projects. However, due to issues related to its acceptance (a doctor may need to 20-40 minutes to enter a case[15]) and standardization, rule-based CDSS has not delivered its immense promise.

Evidence-adaptive systems

Evidence-adaptive systems are proposed that are based on current evidence and have a mechanism for routine updating of recommendations with new research findings.[7]

Machine learning

In these systems, the relationships between independent variables (such as signs and symptoms) and dependent variables (such as likely underlying diseases) is created by having the system be trained on a "large collection of previously classified examples during a period of supervised learning"[16]. Machine learning may also be called case-based due to the system being trained on a collection of previously classified cases.[17] A classic example is automated electrocardiogram interpretation.[18]

Artificial Neural Networks

Artificial Neural Networks ANNs (also referred to as connectionist architectures, parallel distributed processing, and neuromorphic systems), are information-processing paradigm inspired by the way the densely interconnected, massively parallel structure of the mammalian brain processes information. ANNs are collections of mathematical models that emulate some of the observed properties of biological nervous systems and draw on the analogies of adaptive biological learning. ANN can perform supervised or unsupervised machine learning, depending on the categorical information maps available at the time of rule inferencing.

Bayesian Belief Network

A Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) is a mathematical model for using AI (probabilistic) networks for predictive purposes. It is used in the CDSS module as an AI engine to help make probabilistic predictions based upon the observations made by the clinician. These could be used for diagnostics, treatment planning, and even predicting outcomes. An example is Pathfinder for surgical pathology.[19][20]

Connectionist expert systems

Connectionist expert system is a type of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) in which humans can help the system revise weights. Although humans help revise the system based on the empiric data in the system, literature based knowledge is not directly used to modify weight. Connectionist expert system are the "inferencing" methods of the ANNs can be backtracked and "rules generation" is possible. This might actually lead to the enhancement and enrichment of the medical knowledge base itself. This system architecture corresponds to the concept of "unsupervised" machine learning, where the algorithm looks for patterns in data without being instructed about the actual categories of information. This is also known as data mining. An example of a connectionist system is HYCONES.[21]

Hybrid systems

An example of a hybrid system has been developed for diagnosing congenital heart disease.[17] This example combines case-based reasoning with a neural network.

Methods of giving the advice

Various methods exist for displaying the advice for the clinicians.[22]The advice may be actively displayed or may be passive in which case the clinician must request the advice to be displayed. Active display was more effective in a cluster randomized controlled trial.[23]

Effectiveness

A systematic review of studies published through September, 2004 concluded "many CDSSs improve practitioner performance. To date, the effects on patient outcomes remain understudied and, when studied, inconsistent".[24]

A more recent trial found that a clinical decision support system could improve antimicrobial prescribing.[25]

In internal medicine, a study of four diagnostic support systems diagnosed a collection of tests cases with accuracy ranging from 0.52 to 0.71.[26] Another study of ISABEL found it included the correct diagnosis in its list of 30 proposed diagnoses for a collection of tests cases in 96% of the cases.[13] A study of QMR found that it could correctly list the final diagnosis among the first five diagnoses it suggested for 36% to 40% of 1144 consecutive inpatients.[27]

In pediatrics, a systematic review by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded "there are very limited data from randomised trials on which to assess the effects of clinical decision support systems in neonatal care."[28]

Open source initiatives

OpenCLIPS is an open source release of the CLIPS expert system shell.[29] It has been based on the inference engine of [30]. Their goal is to build an active community focused around the support and development of [31].

One of the earlier evaluations on the efficacy of Internet-based CDSS [32] has been favorable.

A CDSS using open source software and delivered through wireless hand-held device has been found to be effective in stopping smoking in primary care [33].

PubMed Central [34] has nearly 2500 full-text articles on CDSS built with the help of open source software.

Market surveys [35] have predicted that development of more robust CDSS is likely to increase its adaptation.

Challenges

Sim et all have identified five challenges to CDDS:[7]

  1. "Capture of both literature-based and practice-based research evidence into machine-interpretable formats suitable for CDSS use"
  2. "Establishment of a technical and methodological foundation for applying research evidence to individual patients at the point of care"
  3. "Evaluation of the clinical effects and costs of CDSSs, as well as how CDSSs affect and are affected by professional and organizational practices"
  4. "Promotion of the effective implementation and use of CDSSs that have been shown to improve clinical performance or outcomes"
  5. "Establishment of public policies that provide incentives for implementing CDSSs to improve health care quality"

References

  1. ↑ Koppel R, Metlay JP, Cohen A, et al (2005). "Role of computerized physician order entry systems in facilitating medication errors". JAMA 293 (10): 1197–203. DOI:10.1001/jama.293.10.1197. PMID 15755942. Research Blogging.
  2. ↑ Nielsen, Jakob (April 11, 2005). Medical Usability: How to Kill Patients Through Bad Design (Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox). Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
  3. ↑ Ash JS, Sittig DF, Poon EG, Guappone K, Campbell E, Dykstra RH (2007). "The extent and importance of unintended consequences related to computerized provider order entry". Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA 14 (4): 415–23. DOI:10.1197/jamia.M2373. PMID 17460127. Research Blogging.
  4. ↑ Han YY, Carcillo JA, Venkataraman ST, et al (2005). "Unexpected increased mortality after implementation of a commercially sold computerized physician order entry system". Pediatrics 116 (6): 1506–12. DOI:10.1542/peds.2005-1287. PMID 16322178. Research Blogging.
  5. ↑ Tang H, Ng JH (2006). "Googling for a diagnosis--use of Google as a diagnostic aid: internet based study". BMJ 333 (7579): 1143–5. DOI:10.1136/bmj.39003.640567.AE. PMID 17098763. Research Blogging.
  6. ↑ Fagan, Lawrence Marvin; Shortliffe, Edward Hance; Perreault, Leslie E.; Wiederhold, Gio (2001). “Clinical Decision-Support Systems”, Medical informatics: Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine, 2nd. Berlin: Springer, 585. ISBN 0-387-98472-0. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Sim I, Gorman P, Greenes RA, et al (2001). "Clinical decision support systems for the practice of evidence-based medicine". J Am Med Inform Assoc 8 (6): 527–34. PMID 11687560. [e] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid11687560" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid11687560" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ Sotos JG (1990). "MYCIN and NEOMYCIN: two approaches to generating explanations in rule-based expert systems". Aviat Space Environ Med 61 (10): 950–4. PMID 2241738. [e]
  9. ↑ de Dombal FT (1995). "Computer-aided diagnosis and medical decision support are not synonymous". Methods Inf Med 34 (4): 369–70. PMID 7476468. [e]
  10. ↑ MGH Laboratory of Computer Science - projects - dxplain. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  11. ↑ Friedman CP, Elstein AS, Wolf FM, et al (1999). "Enhancement of clinicians' diagnostic reasoning by computer-based consultation: a multisite study of 2 systems". JAMA 282 (19): 1851–6. PMID 10573277. [e]
  12. ↑ Isabel Healthcare. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Graber ML, Mathew A (2008). "Performance of a web-based clinical diagnosis support system for internists". J Gen Intern Med 23 Suppl 1: 37–40. DOI:10.1007/s11606-007-0271-8. PMID 18095042. Research Blogging.
  14. ↑ Puppe B, Ohmann C, Goos K, Puppe F, Mootz O (1995). "Evaluating four diagnostic methods with acute abdominal pain cases". Methods Inf Med 34 (4): 361–8. PMID 7476467. [e]
  15. ↑ Graber MA, VanScoy D (2003). "How well does decision support software perform in the emergency department?". Emerg Med J 20 (5): 426–8. PMID 12954680. [e]
  16. ↑ Fagan, Lawrence Marvin; Shortliffe, Edward Hance; Perreault, Leslie E.; Wiederhold, Gio (2001). “Clinical Decision-Support Systems”, Medical informatics: Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine, 2nd. Berlin: Springer, 586. ISBN 0-387-98472-0. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Reategui EB, Campbell JA, Leao BF (1997). "Combining a neural network with case-based reasoning in a diagnostic system". Artif Intell Med 9 (1): 5–27. DOI:10.1016/S0933-3657(96)00359-4. PMID 9021057. Research Blogging. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid9021057" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ Willems JL, Abreu-Lima C, Arnaud P, et al (1991). "The diagnostic performance of computer programs for the interpretation of electrocardiograms". N. Engl. J. Med. 325 (25): 1767–73. PMID 1834940. [e]
  19. ↑ Heckerman DE, Nathwani BN (1992). "Toward normative expert systems: Part II. Probability-based representations for efficient knowledge acquisition and inference". Methods Inf Med 31 (2): 106–16. PMID 1635462. [e]
  20. ↑ Heckerman DE, Horvitz EJ, Nathwani BN (1992). "Toward normative expert systems: Part I. The Pathfinder project". Methods Inf Med 31 (2): 90–105. PMID 1635470. [e]
  21. ↑ Leão Bde F, Guazzelli A, Mendonça EA (1994). "HYCONES II: a tool to build hybrid connectionist expert systems". Proc Annu Symp Comput Appl Med Care: 747–51. PMID 7950024. [e]
  22. ↑ Fagan, Lawrence Marvin; Shortliffe, Edward Hance; Perreault, Leslie E.; Wiederhold, Gio (2001). “Clinical Decision-Support Systems”, Medical informatics: Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine, 2nd. Berlin: Springer, 584. ISBN 0-387-98472-0. 
  23. ↑ van Wyk JT, van Wijk MA, Sturkenboom MC, Mosseveld M, Moorman PW, van der Lei J (2008). "Electronic alerts versus on-demand decision support to improve dyslipidemia treatment: a cluster randomized controlled trial". Circulation 117 (3): 371–8. DOI:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.697201. PMID 18172036. Research Blogging.
  24. ↑ Garg AX, Adhikari NK, McDonald H, et al (2005). "Effects of computerized clinical decision support systems on practitioner performance and patient outcomes: a systematic review". JAMA 293 (10): 1223–38. DOI:10.1001/jama.293.10.1223. PMID 15755945. Research Blogging.
  25. ↑ McGregor JC, Weekes E, Forrest GN, et al (2006). "Impact of a computerized clinical decision support system on reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use: a randomized controlled trial". J Am Med Inform Assoc 13 (4): 378–84. DOI:10.1197/jamia.M2049. PMID 16622162. Research Blogging.
  26. ↑ Berner ES, Webster GD, Shugerman AA, et al (1994). "Performance of four computer-based diagnostic systems". N. Engl. J. Med. 330 (25): 1792–6. PMID 8190157. [e]
  27. ↑ Lemaire JB, Schaefer JP, Martin LA, Faris P, Ainslie MD, Hull RD (1999). "Effectiveness of the Quick Medical Reference as a diagnostic tool". CMAJ 161 (6): 725–8. PMID 10513280. [e]
  28. ↑ Tan K, Dear PR, Newell SJ (2005). "Clinical decision support systems for neonatal care". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD004211. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD004211.pub2. PMID 15846701. Research Blogging.
  29. ↑ OpenCLIPS. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  30. ↑ EGADSS. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  31. ↑ CLIPS Web Site Moving - CLIPSESG. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  32. ↑ Thomas KW, Dayton CS, Peterson MW (1999). "Evaluation of internet-based clinical decision support systems". J. Med. Internet Res. 1 (2): E6. DOI:10.2196/jmir.1.2.e6. PMID 11720915. Research Blogging.
  33. ↑ Michel G, Marcy T, Shiffman RN (2005). "A wireless, handheld decision support system to promote smoking cessation in primary care". AMIA Annu Symp Proc: 530–4. PMID 16779096. [e]
  34. ↑ open source clinical decision support system - PMC Results. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  35. ↑ Development of Robust Clinical Decision Support Systems Key to Increased Adoption Across Europe. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
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