Multipurpose practice guideline modules for clinical decision analysis and quality improvement.

This study aimed to measure the loss of information in communication between clinical researchers and information system developers, to design a tool for sharing clinical practice guidelines, and to test the feasibility of this tool in knowledge base development. The analysis of a sample of 101 randomized controlled clinical trials indicated that exact numeric results were published in only 64 percent of the trials. While structured abstracts were associated with improved total quality scores (p0.001), there was no significant improvement in reporting numeric results (p=0.31). Based on the documented loss of information and the needs of various parties involved, the concept of a multipurpose knowledge module was developed for sharing clinical practice recommendations. Such clinical practice guideline modules were applied in developing the knowledge base of a quality feedback expert system (QFES).