Quality of drug information database research for clinical decision support

Abstract

This commentary identifies studies that have compared commercially available DI databases, and discusses improvements in study methodology that might better guide clinicians in selecting resources for their practice setting. We also provide suggestions for future direction of research in this area with an eye towards clinical decision support systems (CDSS). The body of comparative research of commercially available DI databases is small, and provides little value to the average clinician when making purchasing decisions. Transparency of study methodology would allow readers to choose a database that best fits their practice needs. Future research must consider how DI resources are imbedded within CDSS, such that the alerts generated by the CDSS are consistent with the primary DI workhorse of the practice site. Cohesion between CDSS and DI resources needs to be a consideration in future DI resource comparative research.