An integrated graphic scheme for the display of insulin prescription and blood glucose information.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether use of an integrated graphic scheme for the display of insulin prescription and blood glucose information has an impact on simulated decision-making in clinical practice. METHODS: Five test cases representing patients treated with multiple daily insulin regimens were selected from a database of stored blood glucose readings. Five endocrinologists made treatment recommendations based on review of aggregated readings and corresponding insulin prescriptions. Twenty subjects were randomized to complete two sets of sequential real-time data management exercises. One set focused on evaluation of insulin prescriptions and readings printed as entries in logbooks. The other focused on evaluation of displays of insulin doses and readings plotted out according to an integrated graphic scheme of representation. RESULTS: Subjects were more likely to make correct decisions in four out of five test cases after reviewing displays. Subjects were less likely to make incorrect decisions in all of five test cases after reviewing displays. Completion times were 30-66% shorter for exercises involving review of displays. CONCLUSION: An integrated graphic scheme that associates representations of insulin doses with metaphor graphic displays of aggregated blood glucose readings may facilitate decisionmaking in clinical practice.