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. 2023 Mar 31:100223.
doi: 10.1016/j.clinpr.2023.100223. Online ahead of print.

Prescribing in a pandemic: Electronic prescribing aids to improve non-specialist adherence to COVID-19 guidelines

Marc Woodman  1   2 , Jo Salkeld  1   3 , Connor Sharrock  1 , C Alice Oborne  1   4 , Hanna Nguyen  1   5 , Alka Sobti  1   6 , Anna L Goodman  1   7
Affiliations

Prescribing in a pandemic: Electronic prescribing aids to improve non-specialist adherence to COVID-19 guidelines

Marc Woodman et al. Clin Infect Pract. .

Abstract

Introduction: The evidence around COVID-19 management is continuously evolving. Ensuring awareness of, and adherence to current guidance is challenging. As the second wave of COVID-19 emerged, we recognised the urgent need for better standardisation of patient care in the context of increasing patient load and acuity and the resulting redeployment of staff.

Methods: COVID-19 patients admitted to adult medical wards were identified via their positive swab results. An e-prescribing protocol which included five drugs was introduced and adherence to prescribing guidelines assessed via the electronic noting and prescribing system. Doctors' views of the prescribing protocol were assessed.

Results: Following introduction of the protocol, adherence to guidelines improved. The proportion of patients either prescribed dexamethasone or with a valid contraindication documented increased from 85% to 97% and for remdesivir this increased from 60% to 79%. There was also significant improvement in the prescription of 'as required' insulin for patients on steroids (26% to 48%) and oxygen (43% to 79%).93% of doctors surveyed were aware of the e-prescribing protocol and 81% had used it. Confidence in adhering to the protocols increased from an average of 3.3 to 4.5 out of 5 and 93% of respondents agreed that the protocol was easy to use.

Discussion: Overall, this demonstrates that electronic prescribing protocols can be effective in increasing adherence to guidelines and doctors felt this was a useful tool. This is especially important in a pandemic situation in which many doctors were redeployed outside of their usual specialties.

Keywords: Bundle; COVID-19; E-prescribing; Protocol; SARS-CoV-2; Technology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Measured parameters before and after introduction of protocol (percentages).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Documented reasons for not prescribing remdesivir:
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Confidence in adherence to guidance before and after introduction of protocol (1 = not at all confident, 5 = very confident).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Qualitative survey results – ease of use (1 = very difficult, 5 = very easy).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Qualitative survey results – does the protocol make it easier to adhere to guidance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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