Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42275183›Full record

ArticleFamily practice2026

Current state of electronic problems lists in primary care: a rapid scoping review.

Rajesh Nair, Ian Bekker, Alexander Singer, Francis Lau

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Family practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Rajesh NairSchool of Health Information Science HSD Building, Room A202, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, Canada V8P 5C2.ORCID 0000-0002-5776-3637
Ian BekkerDepartment of Family Medicine, Island Health, Victoria, Canada V8R 1J8.
Alexander SingerDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Manitoba Primary Care Research Network, 770 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MA, Canada R3E 0W3.
Francis LauSchool of Health Information Science HSD Building, Room A202, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, Canada V8P 5C2.ORCID 0000-0001-7010-3281

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundElectronic problem lists (PLs) are central to the problem-oriented medical record and increasingly underpin clinical decision support (CDS), interoperability, and emerging artificial intelligence applications in primary care. However, persistent concerns regarding PL accuracy, completeness, and governance limit their clinical value.

objectiveTo update the foundational framework proposed by Hodge and Narus by synthesizing contemporary evidence on electronic PLs in primary care and primary care-relevant settings.

methodsWe conducted a rapid scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and PRISMA-ScR reporting standards. MEDLINE (Ovid) was searched for peer-reviewed studies published between March 2016 and May 2026. Eligible studies examined digital PLs or extractable PL-related practices relevant to primary care. Findings were synthesized using a hybrid inductive-deductive approach and mapped to the seven Hodge and Narus themes.

resultsA total of 103 studies were included. Across settings, PLs were widely recognized as foundational for longitudinal care, safety, and coordination. However, incomplete, outdated, or inconsistently maintained PLs remained common. Persistent challenges included unclear ownership, workflow misalignment, and variability in what constitutes a "problem." Emerging technologies-including CDS, natural language processing, and machine learning-were increasingly used to support PL generation, curation, reconciliation, and organization, with greatest benefit when embedded within clinician-led workflows.

conclusionDespite technological advances, the clinical value of electronic PLs in primary care continues to depend on governance, workflow integration, and shared accountability. Updating the Hodge and Narus framework highlights the need for sociotechnical approaches to PL improvement as PLs become integral to CDS and artificial intelligence-enabled care.

Indexed as

Decision Support Systems, ClinicalElectronic Health RecordsPrimary Health CareArtificial IntelligenceDigital HealthHumansdigital problem listelectronic problem listprimary careproblem-oriented medical record

Identifiers

PMID42275183
PMCPMC13255725

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.