Impact of a clinical decision support tool targeting QT-prolonging medications

To evaluate the impact of a newly implemented clinical decision support (CDS) tool targeting QT interval-prolonging medications on order verification and provider interventions.

A multicenter, retrospective quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate provider response to CDS alerts triggered during ordering of QT-prolonging medications for adult patients. The primary outcome was the proportion of orders triggering QTc alerts that were continued without intervention during a specified preimplementation phase (n = 49) and during a postimplementation phase (n = 100). Patient risk factors for QTc prolongation, provider alert response, and interventions to reduce the risk of QTc-associated adverse events were evaluated.

The rate of order continuation without intervention was 82% in the preimplementation phase and 37% in the postimplementation phase, representing an 55% reduction in continued verified orders following implementation of the QT-focused CDS tool. Most alerts were initially responded to by the prescriber, with pharmacist intervention needed in only 33% of cases. There were no significant differences in patient QTc-related risk factors between the 2 study groups (P = 0.11); the postimplementation group had a higher proportion of patients using at least 2 QTc-prolonging medications (48%, compared to 26% in the preimplementation group; P = 0.02).

Implementation of the CDS tool was associated with a reduction in the proportion of orders continued without intervention in patients at high risk for QTc-related adverse events.