Developing a Multifaceted Evaluation Tool for Electronic Prescribing System: A Study from a Developing Country

This study was conducted in two main steps in 2018. In the first step, we conducted a literature review to find the main features and capabilities of the prosperous EPS. In the second step, a Delphi method was used for determining the final criteria for evaluating EPS. After preparing a primary questionnaire based on the first step results, 27 expert stakeholders from related fields participated in this 3-phase Delphi study. The narrative content analysis and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.The final evaluation tool consists of 61 questions in 10 main dimensions, including practical capabilities of the process/user and patient safety, data storage and transfer, prescription control and renewal, technical functions, user interfaces, security and privacy, reporting, portability, hardware and infrastructure, and system failure/recovery. The evaluation tool developed in this study can be used for the critical appraisal of features of EPS. It is recommended that this multifaceted evaluation tool be employed to help buyers compare different systems and assist EPS software vendors in prioritizing their activities regarding the system development. By using this tool, healthcare organizations can also choose a system that improves many aspects of health care.
Source: Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research