P07S08: Osteoporosis and high blood pressure

Bottom line: Information on medications for osteoporosis and high blood pressure was used to maintain the management of a patient (prescription renewal). It contributed to increase patient knowledge about their medication.

Level 1 outcome (situational relevance): On June 19, 2008, P07 did a search at work and with a patient (during the encounter). They retrieved one information hit about medication for osteoporosis. The reported search objectives were: to address a clinical question, and to share information with a patient. “It’s a [68 year-old] man who came in for another medication renewal, but I didn’t know what Renedil was. So in case there were interactions or something, I just wanted to know about the other medication that he was taking. [...] The man has osteoporosis at the moment. So it was for a renewal for that, so Alendronate. It was just to know about this medication that someone else must have prescribed while I was away. [...] [The patient] didn’t either have a clue [what this medication was].” According to P07, e-Therapeutics+ was the only source for information, and the found information was relevant.

Level 2 outcome (cognitive impact): One hit was associated with a report of positive cognitive impact (see table). Regarding practice improvement, P07 stated: “Just by seeing Felodipine, then antihypertensive, that gave me the answer. […] I won’t have to do a search the next time.”

Retrieved information hit(s):

1) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): e-CPS tab – Renedil – extract on medication class (P07S08H01)

Level 3 outcome (information use): Information on medication for osteoporosis was retrieved, and used to maintain (be more certain about) the management of the patient (information used as presented in e-Therapeutics+). “[I wanted] to be certain that it was safe to prescribe [a renewal of] a medication, so I needed to know what the other [clinician had prescribed]. [...] I needed to know more about the other medication. I didn’t send him home with medications that contradicted themselves. [...] They were appropriate medications for him.”

Level 4 outcome (patient health): Regarding patient health, P07 reported that the information contributed to increase patient knowledge about his medication. “The man left knowing why he was taking this medication, the side effects that were important to let me know about, and that there were no interactions with the medication that he wanted to get renewed on that day.”

Levels of outcome of information-seeking

Situational relevance	Positive cognitive impact	Information use	Patient health
Address a clinical question Share information	Practice improved Learned something Confirmed Reassured	Be more certain	Patient knowledge

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