The GUIDE-CDSS framework: a comprehensive framework to GUIDE and evaluate the implementation of Clinical Decision Support Systems in healthcare, based on an overview of reviews.

Abstract

Despite the significant potential for Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) to improve care processes and health outcomes, several barriers hinder their widespread implementation in healthcare. While numerous systematic reviews have summarized potential barriers and facilitators for CDSS implementation, a comprehensive framework to guide and evaluate the implementation of CDSSs in healthcare is lacking. This overview of reviews, aims to establish a framework-GUIDE-CDSS-aimed at guiding and evaluating implementation of CDSSs in healthcare. An overview of systematic and scoping reviews was conducted by searching 6 databases. Systematic reviews or scoping reviews that used qualitative research methods to described implementation determinants for CDSSs in the healthcare domain were included. The AMSTAR 2 tool was used to assess the methodological quality. Results were collated into the GUIDE-CDSS framework. This framework describes implementation determinants and elements within those determinants found to impact implementation of CDSSs in healthcare. Twenty-three reviews were included in the analysis. All reviews had at least 2 critical weaknesses, showing a limited methodological quality of included reviews. Eight determinants and 38 elements for implementation of CDSSs in healthcare and were described in the GUIDE-CDSS framework: perceived relevance, perceived effect, trustworthiness, ease of use, workflow, training and skills, resources, and implementation strategy. This overview provides a comprehensive synthesis of the determinants influencing the implementation of CDSSs in healthcare, collated in the GUIDE-CDSS framework. The findings underscore that for successful CDSS development, implementation and evaluation is multifactorial. This study was registered in PROSPERO (No. CRD42024512455).