[Computerized decision support in drug prescribing II: A national database to provide up-to-date and unbiased information]. / Datorn som beslutsstöd vid läkemedelsförskrivning. II: Nationell databas skall ge uppdaterad och obunden information.

Prescribers today encounter increasing demands for up-to-date knowledge of medical advances and drug therapies, and for a straightforward dialogue with patients. Cost-effective drug treatment calls for fast and intuitive access to information about drugs, treatment strategies and patient data. There are several computer-based drug-prescribing systems in Sweden. Information independent of the drug industry is wanting, as are uniform national standards for medical content and functionality. Decision-support systems must facilitate decisions about therapy, drug distribution and intake, as well as quality work, i.e. support the entire process which defines an effective drug therapy. A very important feature is access to a patient's drug list showing all current drugs. This joint initiative by county councils aims at drawing up a national Swedish specification of requirements for a suitable decision-support system and at creating a national entity responsible for distributing unbiased information from a unique database to a range of computerized medical records systems.

[Computerized decision support in drug prescribing I: Better survey of patients' medications yields better quality of care]. / Datorn som beslutsstöd vid läkemedelsförskrivning. I: Bättre överblick över patientens medicinering ger bättre vårdkvalitet.

New drugs and new discoveries--such as those concerning the use of individual genetic profiles to help customize dosages--have refined drug treatment. Drug companies' marketing efforts as well as patients' views and wishes influence physicians in their choice of treatment. Drug-drug interactions continue to be a common cause of admissions to hospitals. Instantaneous access to a patient's complete drug list and to reliable medical information in a computer-based drug-prescribing system will help ensure patient safety. It will also contribute to evidence-based choice of pharmacological principle, drug, method of administration and dosage and to better agreement between patient and doctor.