Exploring perceptions of a decision support system in the era of COVID
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Demonstrating the feasibility of a Learning Health System for cancer diagnosis in primary care in the era of COVID-19: using the DSS in a real-world setting to explore patient and GP perceptions and potential barriers for adoption
IRAS ID
286789
Contact name
Brendan Delaney
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
GPs are faced with the difficult task of assessing potential COVID-19 patients in primary care, as well as taking into account the possibility of other health issues such as early warnings signs of cancer. Early diagnosis research is one of the strategic priorities for CRUK, where survival is clearly linked to stage at diagnosis for many common cancers. As with COVID-19, early detection of symptoms can lead to faster ways for effective management.
Diagnostic delay has many causes, one of the most significant is sub-optimal decision making by GPs. Decision support systems (DSS) are decision aid tools, integrated into the GP’s regular computer system (known as EHR-electronic health record), designed to support the GP in decision making during the consultation.
GPs will be observed across two conditions. GPs will be asked to consult with five patients without the DSS i.e. using their normal eHR, and on a different day, consult with five different patients using the DSS. Observable activities will be examined and a coding framework of activities of interest will be developed to categorise the interactions between GP, patient, and computer.
We are interested in both GP and patient perceptions. GPs will be invited to take part in an interview after using the eHR with five patients, as well as a second interview after using the DSS with five different patients. Interviews will provide GPs with an opportunity to discuss their perspective on the EHR and DSS, including exploring the potential difficulties of DSS adoption during the consultation and ways to best manage/ overcome potential barriers. Patients will be invited to take part in an interview only after attending consultations with the DSS. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed for analysis. Analysis will be thematic in nature and mapped to the key research questions.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0214
Date of REC Opinion
27 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion