A REVIEW OF ONCOLOGY CLINICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS- WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS AND REASONS FOR SYSTEM FAILURE?.

Corresponding Author:
Haleh Ayatollahi,
Associate Professor in Medical Informatics,
Health Management and Economics Research Center,
Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
E-mail: ayatollahi.h@iums.ac.ir

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

The large amount of information and their maintenance issues are two main issues in cancer care. To resolve them, the use of health information technology, such as clinical information systems has been suggested. The present study aimed to review various clinical information systems used in the field of oncology and the critical success factors influencing system implementation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review study was completed in 2017. In this study, papers related to clinical information systems in the field of oncology were retrieved by using keywords, such as cancer, cancer information system, radiotherapy information system, and chemotherapy information system. The databases and the search engine were Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of knowledge, Ovid Medline, and Google Scholar and the time frame was between 2010 and 2016. Initially, a total of 302 papers were retrieved, and finally 21 related papers were selected.

RESULTS

The main clinical information systems used in oncology included cancer information systems, cancer electronic medical records, radiotherapy information systems, chemotherapy information systems, and other systems. The critical success factors were mainly related to the appropriate use of technology, user acceptance, system integration, and paying adequate attention to the users’ requirements.

CONCLUSION

The use of clinical information systems in the field of oncology is inevitable, mainly due to the wide range of benefits that these systems have. However, in order to implement these systems successfully, proper choice of technology, user training, application of standards, periodic evaluations, as well as workflow identification are required for effective use of these systems.

KEY WORDS

Neoplasm; Cancer; Clinical Information System; Radiotherapy; Hospital.