Impact of the automatic rounding-off function of the computerized physician order entry system on the ordering time and dose dispersion of chemotherapeutic drugs in regimens for hematologic malignancies

Abstract

Introduction: EGMAIN-GX is the computerized physician order entry system used in Japan. The automatic rounding-off of the calculated dose of chemotherapeutic drugs is an update in version 4, compared to version 2. We conducted a comparative study between EGMAIN-GX versions 2 and 4 to estimate the effect of the automatic rounding-off function on ordering time and dose dispersion.

Methods: Twelve hematologists ordered 5 predefined chemotherapeutic regimens most commonly used in treating hematologic malignancies, twice for each regimen.

Results: EGMAIN-GX version 4 significantly reduced ordering times compared to version 2 (635s vs. 259s, p<0.01). EGMAIN-GX version 4 also yielded a significantly higher ratio of actual to ideal doses of chemotherapeutic drugs than did version 2 (1.0097 and 0.9997, respectively; p<0.01) and a lower standard deviation (0.0275 and 0.0290, respectively).

Conclusions: The automatic rounding-off function could decrease the ordering time and dose dispersion of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Keywords: Chemotherapeutic drugs; Computerized physician order entry; Dose dispersion; Hematologic malignancy; Ordering time.