Identifying Medication Review Topics to Be Documented in a Structured Form in Electronic Health Record Systems: Delphi Consensus Survey

TL;DR

Experts agreed on what medication review information should be structured in electronic health records to improve data sharing and patient care.

Contribution

Identified specific medication review topics for structured documentation in EHRs through a Delphi consensus survey.

Findings

97.3% of 111 topics reached consensus for structured documentation in EHRs.

Blood pressure, kidney function, and bleeding risk were top priorities for documentation.

Information should be accessible to healthcare professionals and patients via national digital repositories.

Abstract

Poor data transfer and interoperability between electronic health record (EHR) systems has been a challenge hindering availability and usability of patient information in clinical practice and evidence-based decision-making. To improve data transfer and interoperability, patient information should be documented in a structured format. This also applies to medication-related patient information and results of the interventions, such as medication reviews (MRs), to individually optimize medication regimens, especially in older adults.

This study aimed to identify what information obtained from MRs should be documented in a structured form in EHRs at a national and organizational level.

The study was conducted as a 3-round Delphi consensus survey in 2020. The electronic survey was based on a comprehensive inventory of international and national MR procedures in various settings. Expert panelists (N=41) independently assessed which topics should be documented in a structured form in EHRs. The interprofessional panel (N=41) consisted of 12 physicians, 13 pharmacists, 10 nurses, and 6 information management professionals (participation rate 66%-76% in rounds 1-3; consensus limit set at 80%). The responses were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Consensus was reached on 97.3% (108/111) of predetermined topics to be documented in a structured form in EHRs. Of these, 39 concerned the MR process, 25 related to potentially drug-induced symptoms, 11 related to burden of risks for adverse drug effects, 12 related to laboratory tests and other test results, 12 related to medication adherence, and 9 related to the use of intoxicants. The patient’s blood pressure (mean 4.85, SD 0.53; on a Likert scale 1-5), kidney function (mean 4.81, SD 0.56), and risk of bleeding (mean 4.81, SD 0.56) were ranked as the 3 most important topics to be documented in a structured form. The panel reached a consensus that the information obtained from MRs should be made available to all health care professionals in the national digital repository for patient data and to patients to some extent.

The interprofessional expert panel strongly agreed on the results of the MRs that should be documented in a structured form in EHRs and made available to both health professionals involved in care teams and patients themselves.

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