Effect of periodic letters on evidence-based drug therapy on prescribing behaviour: a randomized trial.
(41/169)
BACKGROUND: The effect of regular and expected printed educational materials on physician prescribing behaviour has not been studied. We sought to measure the impact of a series of evidence-based drug therapy letters mailed to physicians in British Columbia on prescribing to newly treated patients. METHODS: A paired, cluster randomized community design was used. The study population included 499 physicians from 24 local health areas in British Columbia. Local health areas were paired by number of physicians, and 1 of each pair was randomly selected and its physicians assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention was 12 issues of an evidence-based series called Therapeutics Letter. Physicians in the control group (n = 241) received the letters 3-8 months after physicians in the intervention group (n = 258). The impact on prescribing to newly treated patients (defined as patients who had not previously made a claim for any medication from the class of drugs profiled in the letter) was analyzed using the drug claims database of BC Pharmacare, a publicly funded drug benefits program that covered all seniors and people receiving social assistance. RESULTS: The probability of prescribing a drug recommended in the Therapeutics Letter rather than another drug in the same class increased by 30% in the 3 months after the mailing of the letter relative to the preceding 3 months, adjusted for any before-after changes in the control group (relative risk 1.30; 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.52). No letter achieved statistical significance on its own. However, 11 of the 12 letters produced prescribing changes in the predicted direction such that the overall result was significant when their effect was combined. INTERPRETATION: The combined effect of an ongoing series of printed letters distributed from a credible and trusted source can have a clinically significant effect on prescribing to newly treated patients. (+info)
A randomised controlled trial to determine the effect on response of including a lottery incentive in health surveys [ISRCTN32203485].
(42/169)
BACKGROUND: Postal questionnaires are an economical and simple method of data collection for research purposes but are subject to non-response bias. Several studies have explored the effect of monetary and non-monetary incentives on response. Recent meta-analyses conclude that financial incentives are an effective way of increasing response rates. However, large surveys rarely have the resources to reward individual participants. Three previous papers report on the effectiveness of lottery incentives with contradictory results. This study aimed to determine the effect of including a lottery-style incentive on response rates to a postal health survey. METHODS: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: North and West Birmingham. 8,645 patients aged 18 or over randomly selected from registers of eight general practices (family physician practices). INTERVENTION: Inclusion of a flyer and letter with a health questionnaire informing patients that returned questionnaires would be entered into a lottery-style draw for pound 100 of gift vouchers. CONTROL: Health questionnaire accompanied only by standard letter of explanation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Response rate and completion rate to questionnaire. RESULTS: 5,209 individuals responded with identical rates in both groups (62.1%). Practice, patient age, sex and Townsend score (a postcode based deprivation measure) were identified as predictive of response, with higher response related to older age, being female and living in an area with a lower Townsend score (less deprived). CONCLUSION: This RCT, using a large community based sample, found that the offer of entry into a lottery style draw for pound 100 of High Street vouchers has no effect on response rates to a postal health questionnaire. (+info)
Increasing response to a postal survey of sedentary patients - a randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN45665423].
(43/169)
BACKGROUND: A systematic review identified a range of methods, which can influence response rates. However, analysis specific to a healthcare setting, and in particular, involving people expected to be poor responders, was missing, We examined the effect of pre-warning letters on response rates to a postal survey of sedentary patients whom we expected a low rate of response. METHODS: Participants were randomised to receive a pre-warning letter or no pre-warning letter, seven days before sending the main questionnaire. The main questionnaire included a covering letter and pre-paid return envelope. After seven days, non-responders were sent a reminder letter and seven days later, another reminder letter with a further copy of the questionnaire and return envelope. RESULTS: 627 adults, with a mean age of 48 years (SD 13, range 18 to 78) of whom 69.2% (434/627) were women, were randomised. 49.0% (307/627) of patients were allocated to receive a pre-warning letter and 51.0% (320/627) no pre-warning letter, seven days in advance of posting the main questionnaire. The final response rate to the main questionnaire was 30.0% (92/307) amongst those sent a pre-warning letter and 20.9% (67/320) not sent a pre-warning letter, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.60 (95% CI 1.1, 2.30). CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low cost method of sending a pre-warning letter had a modest impact on increasing response rates to a postal questionnaire sent to a group of patients for whom a low response rate was anticipated. Investigators should consider incorporating this simple intervention when conducting postal surveys, to reduce the potential for nonresponse bias and to increase the study power. Methods other than postal surveys may be needed however when a low response rate to postal surveys is likely. (+info)
Does a deadline improve men's participation in self-administered health surveys? A randomized controlled trial in general practice.
(44/169)
BACKGROUND: Self-administered questionnaires are commonly used in experimental studies to elicit quality of life or other outcomes. Hence, achieving an acceptable level of follow-up from patients is critical to minimizing bias. Many methods for maximizing follow-up remain untested. It is also unclear what level of follow-up is required to prevent bias being introduced. METHODS: We recruited 246 men from general practice surgeries in Sydney, Australia. These 246 men were randomized to receive a covering letter with their follow-up questionnaire either advising of a deadline to reply (Deadline, n = 126) or a standard letter without a deadline (No Deadline, n = 120). Four standardized reminder prompts subsequently were administered. We calculated interim response rates and the final proportion of follow-up questionnaires received according to group. We also compared scores on two main outcomes, namely, knowledge and decisional conflict at each time when reminder prompts were administered. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve (88.9%) men in the Deadline group returned their follow-up questionnaires compared with 102 (85.0%) men in the No Deadline group. This difference was not statistically significant [odds ratio = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.67-2.99; p = 0.36]. Time to response also was not significantly affected by cover letter received (hazard ratio = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.73-1.25; p = 0.76). Results of the original RCT were similar in terms of direction and effect size at all times irrespective of when reminder prompts were administered. CONCLUSION: The addition of a deadline adds no further impact in improving response rates from male patients compared with an unspecified letter. Despite the accepted wisdom that higher response protects against bias, differences in outcomes were consistent throughout the post-test data collection period. (+info)
A randomized study to decrease the use of potentially inappropriate medications among community-dwelling older adults in a southeastern managed care organization.
(45/169)
BACKGROUND: Despite progress in describing the problem of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use, there have been few prospective studies demonstrating that interventions with specific medication criteria can make a difference in decreasing the use of problematic drugs in older adults. OBJECTIVE: To design an intervention study to change physician behavior regarding PIM prescribing to older patients. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective randomized block design was used during an 18-month period from January 2001 to June 2002. The study population was primary care physicians (n = 355) in the Medicare + Choice product line of a southeastern managed care organization and their patients 65 years and older. There were 170 physicians in the treatment group and 185 in the control group. Physicians were assigned to the treatment or usual-care, groups using a randomization table, and each group included physicians who had and had not prescribed a PIM. RESULTS: Approximately 71% (84/118) of the physicians in the intervention group who prescribed a PIM completed and faxed back at least 1 potentially inappropriate medication form to the managed care organization. On 15.4% (260/1692) of the medication forms, physicians made some change regarding PIM use. CONCLUSIONS: Although many studies have addressed medication use among older adults, intervention studies aimed at influencing physician prescribing in this population are limited. This study describes a low-cost, replicable method to contact and educate physicians on drug therapy issues in older adults. (+info)
Referring to a child psychiatrist.
(46/169)
BACKGROUND: Child psychiatry is a highly specialised practice and many general practitioners are uncertain how to manage a child who might require such intervention. OBJECTIVE: This article provides some guidelines regarding referral and ongoing collaboration, but it is important to remember that each child psychiatrist may have their own style of practice. DISCUSSION: Most child psychiatrists work with the range of childhood ages from primary and secondary school age children through to youth and early adulthood. It is essential that the GP take a medical history and examination before referral. Referral should be specific. (+info)
Referrals to hospital-based rheumatology and orthopaedic services: seeking direction.
(47/169)
OBJECTIVES: While both community and hospital-based services strive to cope with the considerable burden posed by musculoskeletal disorders, multidisciplinary-led, integrated approaches are frequently lacking. It has been suggested that referrals to musculoskeletal services are frequently misdirected to an orthopaedic surgeon when non-surgical advice/intervention is warranted, reducing the efficiency of hospital-based services and potentially affecting quality of care. Triage of referrals may help to prevent this, but this system is dependent upon accurate and thorough information being provided in the referral letter. Our aim was to assess the feasibility of triage of musculoskeletal referrals to rheumatology and orthopaedic services at a large teaching hospital. METHODS: One thousand and eighty-seven consecutive referral letters to orthopaedic and rheumatology services were reviewed by a consultant rheumatologist. Letters were assessed for both basic content and the appropriate destination for that referral. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the assessor's prediction of the most appropriate destination of the referrals, the number of patients who were ultimately listed for surgical intervention was calculated in a random sample of orthopaedic referrals, 1 yr after the initial hospital appointment was requested. RESULTS: Six hundred and eighty-two referrals were to orthopaedics and 393 to rheumatology. Referrals relating to spinal pain were excluded. The content of letters was scant and no diagnosis was volunteered in 63.4% of referrals. Fifty-eight per cent of referrals to orthopaedics were considered appropriate; 27% of referrals to orthopaedics were defined as 'should definitely see a rheumatologist' (12%) or 'should probably see a rheumatologist' (15%). Fifteen per cent of referrals to orthopaedics were defined as 'could see either a surgeon or a rheumatologist'. Ninety-four per cent of referrals to rheumatology were defined as appropriate, 2% were not and 4% were defined as 'could see either a surgeon or a rheumatologist'. One year later, in a random sample of 373 of the orthopaedic referrals, 42.2% of those who were categorized as 'should see surgeon' and 9.7% of the 'should see a physician' group were listed for surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Many referrals to hospital-based musculoskeletal services are likely to be misdirected. Integrated referral and care pathways are required for efficient and optimal care of patients with musculoskeletal diseases. The development of such pathways will require significant support, education and training for general practitioners. (+info)
In their own words: lessons learned from those exposed to anthrax.
(48/169)
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated perceptions of workers at the US Postal Service Brentwood Processing and Distribution Center and US Senate employees regarding public health responses to the anthrax mailings of October 2001. We generated recommendations for improving responses to bioterrorism on the basis of the perceptions we recorded. METHODS: Transcripts from focus groups conducted with Brentwood and US Senate employees were examined, and qualitative analysis identified common domains. RESULTS: Brentwood focus groups consisted of 36 participants (97% African American and 19% hearing impaired). US Senate focus groups consisted of 7 participants (71% White and 0% hearing impaired). The focus groups revealed that participants' trust in public health agencies had eroded and that this erosion could threaten the effectiveness of communication during future public health emergencies. Among Brentwood participants, lack of trust involved the perception that unfair treatment on the basis of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status had occurred; among US Senate participants, it derived from perceptions of inconsistent and disorganized messages. CONCLUSIONS: Effective communication during a public health emergency depends on the provision of clear messages and close involvement of the affected community. Diverse populations may require individualized approaches to ensure that messages are delivered appropriately. Special attention should be given to those who face barriers to traditional modes of communication. (+info)