Reminders of Drug Effects on Laboratory Test Results

Drug effects on laboratory test results are difficult to take into account without an online decision support system. In this study, drug effects on hormone test results were coded using a drug-laboratory effect (DLE) code. The criteria that trigger the reminders were defined. To issue reminders, it...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical chemistry (Baltimore, Md.) Md.), 2000-09, Vol.46 (9), p.1395-1400
Main Authors: Kailajarvi, Marita, Takala, Timo, Gronroos, Paula, Tryding, Nils, Viikari, Jorma, Irjala, Kerttu, Forsstrom, Jari
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
Computerized, statistical medical data processing and models in biomedicine
Databases, Factual
Diagnosis, Differential
Drug Therapy
Hormones - blood
Humans
Internet
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Medical management aid. Diagnosis aid
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous. Technology
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Thyroid Diseases - diagnosis
Thyroid Hormones - blood
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Summary:Drug effects on laboratory test results are difficult to take into account without an online decision support system. In this study, drug effects on hormone test results were coded using a drug-laboratory effect (DLE) code. The criteria that trigger the reminders were defined. To issue reminders, it was necessary to write a computer program linking the DLE knowledge base with databases containing individual patient medication and laboratory test results. During the first 10 months, 11% of the results from hormone samples were accompanied by one or more DLE reminders. The most common drugs to trigger reminders were glucocorticoids, furosemide, and metoclopramide. Physicians facing the reminders completed a questionnaire on the usefulness of the reminders. All respondents considered them useful. In addition, DLE reminders had caused 74% of respondents to refrain from additional, usually performed examinations. In conclusion, drug effects on laboratory tests should always be considered when interpreting laboratory results. An online reminder system is useful in displaying potential drug effects alongside test results.
ISSN:0009-9147
1530-8561
DOI:10.1093/clinchem/46.9.1395