Health information communication technology evaluation frameworks for pharmacist prescribing: A systematic scoping review

Abstract

Background: Information communication technology (ICT) is instrumental in pharmacists' current practice and emerging roles. One such role is prescribing, which requires the use of clinical guidelines and documentation of decision-making, commonly via ICT. Development and refinement of ICT should be guided by evaluation frameworks that describe or measure features of ICT and its implementation. In the context of pharmacist prescribing, these evaluation frameworks should be specific to health stakeholders and the pharmacy setting.

Objectives: To identify ICT evaluation frameworks from health-related literature and review frameworks relevant to the development, implementation, and evaluation of pharmacist prescribing.

Methods: A database search of CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline (Ovid), ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science and grey literature was conducted, using combinations of keywords relating to 'ICT', 'utilization', 'usability', and 'evaluation framework'. Abstracts and titles were screened according to inclusion criteria. Identified evaluation frameworks were critiqued for relevance to pharmacy practice.

Results: Twenty-two articles were identified, describing the development or application of 20 evaluation frameworks. None of the frameworks was developed specifically for pharmacy practice. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), describing use behavior, behavior intention, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use, was the most widely utilized framework. The Information System Success (ISS) and Human-Organization and Technology Fit (HOT-fit) are notable evaluation frameworks that address user and organizational influences in health ICT utility, and factors of both can address the limitation of TAM.

Conclusions: The findings call for development of an agile evaluation framework for the system under review; however, this can prove difficult due to the heterogenicity and complexity of the healthcare system, particularly contemporary pharmacy practice. While the TAM appears useful to evaluate user attitudes and intentions towards ICT, its relevance to ICT in contemporary community pharmacy practice requires exploration.