We Ask and Listen: A Group-Wide Retrospective Survey on Satisfaction with Digital Medication Software

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Medical Software Implementation
• Digital Health Transformation

Background:

• Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have been used globally since the 1980s.
• These systems aim to reduce costs, enhance drug therapy safety, and improve patient care quality.
• Germany has recently focused on digitizing its healthcare sector, necessitating user training and acceptance of new systems like CPOE-CDSS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the implementation of new medication software, specifically CPOE-CDSS, in a German healthcare setting.
• To evaluate user satisfaction among physicians and nursing staff with the implemented medication software.
• To identify areas for improvement in software functionality and the implementation process from the user's perspective.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous, voluntary online survey was conducted among physicians and nursing staff.
• The survey utilized Likert scale, single-choice, and multiple-choice questions covering general information, digital medication administration, drug safety, and software introduction.
• Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel 2016 and GraphPad PRISM 9.5.0.

Main Results:

• User satisfaction with the CPOE-CDSS increased with hours of usage.
• Software performance and loading times negatively impacted satisfaction, with only 20% of physicians and 17% of nurses satisfied.
• While 57% of physicians found the training scope adequate, 53% of nurses deemed the training period unsuitable for daily use. Both groups agreed (76% nurses, 75% physicians) that CPOE-CDSS aids in detecting drug-related problems.

Conclusions:

• Successful healthcare digitalization hinges on effective change management, comprehensive training, and addressing software performance issues.
• Optimizing software interfaces and performance is critical for user acceptance and the overall effectiveness of CPOE-CDSS.
• Continued focus on user feedback and training is essential for improving medication safety and streamlining healthcare processes through digital tools.