Decisions Surrounding Adverse Drug Reaction Prescribing: Insights from Consumers and Implications for Decision Support

This paper presents findings from case studies of health consumers who each suspect they may have experienced an adverse drug reaction (ADR). These case studies are part of a larger study involving consumer/doctor decisions surrounding suspected adverse drug reactions and prescribing. Decision support to assist with the diagnosis and management of ADRs has, to date, primarily focused on providing in-time information to prescribers about factors that pertain to the consumer and the medications they are taking. Decision support that includes consumers usually targets treatment decisions. The results of this paper indicate the prescriber is only one decision contributor in a rich tapestry of decision contributors and decision types, and consumer decision types are significantly broader than treatment decisions. The results provide guidance for the development of decision support within this domain. ACM Classification: J.3 (Life and Medical Sciences), K.4 (Computers and Society)