The role of information technology in evidenced-based practice

Area of Science:

• Psychiatric informatics
• Clinical computing applications
• Evidence-based mental healthcare

Background:

• Clinical computing tools, such as automated self-report, offer accurate assessments for both research and clinical psychiatric settings.
• The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is poised to create a vital real-time information link between clinical practice and research.
• Despite a strong evidence base for clinical computing in psychiatry, adoption rates among psychiatrists have been notably low, leading to a decline in related research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the role of clinical computing in evidence-based psychiatric practice.
• To underscore the potential of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) to bridge research and clinical settings.
• To address the historical underutilization of computing in psychiatry and predict future trends.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on the efficacy of clinical computing in psychiatric care and research.
• Analysis of the impact of automated self-report on clinical assessments.
• Examination of the role of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) in facilitating data integration.

Main Results:

• Automated self-report provides accurate clinical assessments, ensuring consistent symptom criteria across research and clinical environments.
• The development of system-wide Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) is expected to significantly boost the adoption and application of clinical computing.
• A historical lag in computer adoption by psychiatrists has led to a decrease in research, a trend anticipated to reverse with EMR implementation.

Conclusions:

• Clinical computing is essential for effective evidence-based psychiatric practice.
• The widespread adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) is predicted to revitalize psychiatric research and clinical computing.
• Overcoming barriers to technology adoption is crucial for advancing psychiatric care through digital tools.