Studies
Impact of Opinion Leader-Endorsed Evidence Summaries on the Quality of Prescribing for Patients with Cardiovascular disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Author: Majumdar S, Tsuyuki R, McAlister F
Intervention Type: Distribution of Educational Materials to Professionals, Local Opinion Leaders, Patient-Mediated Interventions, Reminders to Professionals
Disease State: Cardiovascular Disease
Research Objective
To evaluate whether patient-specific and condition-specific one-page evidence summaries, generated and endorsed by local opinion leaders, would improve prescribing for patients with heart failure and ischemic heart disease
Methods
Design: Randomized controlled trial that was 6 months in duration
Study sample: Physicians
Intervention:
Group 1 – Intervention: Received a one-page evidence summary endorsed by local opinion leaders and a copy of the patient’s current medication profile. These acted as a “point of care reminder” for the next physician visit when placed together in the patient’s medical record.
Group 2 – Control: Received patient’s current medication profile
Medication Prescribing and Use Outcome(s)
- Percentage of patients receiving efficacious medications
- Improvements in prescribing
Key Results
- Overall, there was no significant change in the number of patients being prescribed efficacious medications between the intervention and control groups – both groups demonstrated absolute improvements exceeding 17%.
- Small, but non-significant, absolute improvement (18%) in prescribing for heart failure patients (p=0.15)
Key Implementation Issues
- Improvements in prescribing may vary between disease states.
- Some opinion leaders may be more influential than others.
- Heart failure summaries were more specific and included dosing and drug recommendations. This may have influenced the greater improvement in prescribing.
Citation(s)
Impact of Opinion Leader-Endorsed Evidence Summaries on the Quality of Prescribing for Patients with Cardiovascular disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial Majumdar, S., Tsuyuki, R., & McAlister, F.A. (2007). American Heart Journal, 153(1), 22.e1-22.e8.
A cluster randomized trial to assess the impact of opinion leader endorsed evidence summaries on improving quality of prescribing for patients with chronic cardiovascular disease: rationale and design. Majumdar, S., McAlister, F., Tsuyuki, R. (2005). BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 5 (17).