Computable decision modules for patient safety in child health care.

Objective: To identify controlled evidence from the child health literature on patient conditions and clinical procedures that resulted in unacceptable adverse outcomes.

Methods: Systematic searches of MEDLINE (1966 to 2001), and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2001) were done. Studies that met the eligibility criteria, were verified for quality of methodology and lack of conflicting studies. A knowledge base of Child Health Safety Modules was then developed. The knowledge base could be used to transfer controlled evidence on potentially harmful interventions into clinical decision support systems conforming with Arden Syntax, a widely applied computer standard.

Results: The searches identified knowledge to create 41 Child Health Safety Modules for medications and procedures in child health care, from 29 randomized controlled trials and 12 non-randomized controlled studies. The modules are focused on 28 medication interventions and 13 other clinical procedures. Eighty five percent of the studies were published between 1997-2001.

Conclusion: An increasing amount of controlled evidence on risks of adverse outcomes in child health is available to alert clinicians when potential planning errors are about to be overlooked.