A cluster randomised trial to assess the impact of opinion leader endorsed evidence summaries on improving quality of prescribing for patients with chronic cardiovascular disease

Completed

Conditions: Heart failure, ischaemic heart disease
Circulatory System
Chronic ischaemic heart disease

Registration Number: ISRCTN26365328

Lead Sponsor: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (Canada)

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 160

Inclusion Criteria

Patients with HF or IHD who are not currently taking the study medications of interest (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme [ACE] inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers for HF or statins for IHD), and whose primary care physician of record is part of the study. For patients who happen to be eligible for both HF and for IHD, only one condition will be selected at random.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Decline enrolment
2. Unable or unwilling to give informed consent
3. Have previously taken the study medications according to dispensing records
4. Have a documented allergy or intolerance to study medications according to pharmacist records
5. Are in long-term care facilities or institutions
6. Do not confirm on the basis of self-report that they have a diagnosis of either HF or IHD
7. Primary care physician has already contributed 5 patients to the study

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The primary outcome measure will be the 'improvement' of prescribing for efficacious therapies in patients with a chronic cardiovascular disease within 6 months of the intervention. By study design, none of the study patients will be taking the medications of interest. For HF, starting any ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker will be considered a positive outcome. For IHD, starting any statin will be considered a positive outcome. For the primary outcome all positive study-related medication changes will be pooled for an overall estimate of effect, compared with usual care controls.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1. Condition-specific 'improvement' in prescribing after 6 months<br>2. 'Optimization' of dosage for each of the medications prescribed (i.e. ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers and statins)<br>3. Patient adherence (using prescription refill rates based on dispensing records) <br>4. Potential influence of age and sex on outcomes