ACP PIER (Physicians' Information and Education Resource)

Type of evidence used to support content - Ketchum, 2009

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Introduction

See also Point of care decision-making tools - Overview

ACP-PIER is an abbreviation for the American College of Physicians (ACP) - Physicians' Information and Education Resource (PIER). ACP-PIER is an evidence-based point-of-care tool available through STAT!Ref. In keeping with its motto, "Clinical Guidance from ACP", each entry contains guidelines found in major peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. Every guideline or recommendation is assigned an evidence rank from A to C. Similarly, every citation receives an evidence rank. Disease modules follow a standard template of chapter-like headings, which allows searchers to find information by browsing. Librarians and instructors may find that this functionality also increases teachability. Editors update the modules which can be tracked by users. PIER links to drug information from the AHFS DI® Essentials™ database. Figures (colour and grayscale) and tables are available for each module.

Compared to other POC tools, PIER has a smaller set of modules but is growing; it selects diseases based on how often they are encountered. Searchers should note that the Edit>Find feature works after the searcher has clicked in the frame containing the full text of the module. Each recommendation is followed by three sections: 1) Rationale, 2) Evidence and 3) Comments. All guidelines and recommendations are assigned ranks from A to C, with each citation in the reference list receiving an evidence rank. Disease modules follow a standard template of headings, allowing searchers to find information quickly.

See ACP PIER tutorial at Yale

Browsability

ACP PIER headings:

• Prevention
• Screening
• Diagnosis
• Consultation for Diagnosis
• Hospitalization
• Non-drug Therapy
• Drug Therapy
• Patient Education
• Consultation for Management
• Follow-up

ACP PIER provides the following tables:

• History and Physical Examination
• Laboratory and Other Studies
• Differential Diagnosis
• Drug Treatment
• Elements of Follow-up

References

• American College of Physicians. Stat!Ref: ACP PIER - Physician's Information and Education Reference. http://online.statref.com/titleinfo/fxid-50.html
• Banzi R, Liberati A, Moschetti I, Tagliabue L, Moja L. A review of online evidence-based practice point-of-care information summary providers. JMIR. 2010;12(3):e26, 1-16.
• Campbell R, Ash J. An evaluation of five bedside information products using a user-centered, task-oriented approach. J Med Libr Assoc. 2006;94(4): 435–41, e206–7.
• Ketchum A, Saleh A. The evidence behind point of care products. Pittsburgh: Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC 2009.
• Tomasulo P. PIER-Evidence-Based Medicine from ACP. Med Ref Serv Q Fall 2004;23(3):39-48.
• Vine R, Shaughnessy R, Thuna M. EBM Tool-Picking Made Easy. Presented at Medical Library Association Annual Meeting 2008.