NCT00414401

Clinical Reminders in Test Reports to Improve Guideline Compliance

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1,500 (estimated)
• Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Although beta-blockers are known to prolong survival for patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, their use in the community and the VA is suboptimal.

Detailed description

Background: Although beta-blockers are known to prolong survival for patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, their use in the community and the VA is suboptimal. Objectives: To determine if a reminder attached to the echocardiography report would increase the use of beta-blockers among patients with depressed left ventricular function. Methods: We are randomizing consecutive patients undergoing echocardiography at one of three VA echocardiography laboratories with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (\<40%) and no echocardiographic contraindication to beta-blockers (e.g. aortic stenosis) to a reminder for use of beta-blockers or to no reminder. The reminder gives starting doses for two commonly used beta-blockers (carvedilol and metoprolol). Patients are excluded from the analysis if they leave the health care system or die within three months of randomization. The primary outcome is a prescription for a beta-blocker between three and nine months following echocardiography Status: The project is complete.

Conditions

• Heart Failure, Congestive

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Clinical Reminder

Timeline

• Start date: 2001-05-01
• Completion: 2006-06-01
• First posted: 2006-12-21
• Last updated: 2015-04-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States