Information retrieval for evidence-based practice using the Automated Community Health Information System

Article type
Authors
Hong W1, Kang K2, Rah H3, Shon HS3
1Chungbuk National University, College of Medicine, The Medical Research Information Center, South Korea
2The Korean Branch of Australian Cochrane Center, South Korea
3Graduate School of Health Science Business Convergence, Chungbuk National University, South Korea
Abstract
Background: Reliability of data is essential to clinical documentation and research. The Automated Community Health Information System (ACHIS) is a data collection tool that utilizes the Omaha System (OS). Standardized languages such as the OS as a part of computerized healthcare documentation systems can provide the basis for building evidence-based practice. Developing quality clinical data management is imperative in electronic health records.
Objectives: To examine the information retrieval from the ACHIS in order to compare commonalities and consistencies in the nursing process components related to health promotion in adults with high blood pressure (HBP) in primary settings with both research-based evidence and practice-based evidence.
Methods: To collect practice-based evidence, a secondary data analysis of selected data elements from an aggregated client database - the ACHIS - as coded in the OS was employed. Criteria for inclusion of client records in the study were for the clients to be over 18 years of age and for them to be diagnosed with a circulation problem, 'Abnormal BP reading' according to the Problem Classification Scheme OS. A systematic review was conducted to collect relevant references and establish the research extent.
Results: Data on 30,121 encounters with 3963 clients were obtained from a data repository created by the ACHIS. Circulation problems, over-weight condition, physical activity status, lack of adherence to prescribed medication regimen, and substance use such as smoking or alcohol consumption were extracted from both clinical database and study recommendations, from a systematic review as common factors for nursing diagnoses for adults with HBP.
Conclusion: A key feature of ACHIS is the use of a standardized language that includes the OS to represent these components of the nursing process in a retrievable form in electronic data warehouses for practice-based practice. The study tested the use of a large computerized clinical database as a tool that allowed the investigators relatively easy access to data addressing many clinical questions for evidence-based practice.