Decision support in multi-professional communication.

This paper explores the role of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in facilitating communication between physicians, nurses, patients and family members. Thirty-three critical care unit nurses and physicians were interviewed regarding the APACHE III CDSS. This qualitative, descriptive study suggests that registered nurses and physicians are primarily motivated to use CDSS when this technology allows them to forecast the potential outcomes of decisions prior to actually making those decisions. These forecasts are used to advocate for care decisions with other disciplines, patients and their family members. Implications for professional practice and recommendations for future research are described.