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HMO Research Network CERT: Acute Myocardial Infarction

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
Interventions
Behavioral: Beta-blocker adherence after an AMI
Registration Number
NCT00211172
Lead Sponsor
Kaiser Permanente
Brief Summary

The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of direct-to-patient mailings designed to increase patient's adherence to prescribed beta-blockers following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Prior to developing patient materials, focus groups were conducted with patient who had previously suffered an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to identify the issues and information that patients felt were important to include in our materials as well as the best way to present the information. Additionally, patient materials were "pre-tested" with AMI patients to ensure that the materials were clear and easy to read and that the key messages were understood.

Detailed Description

Specific Aims:

1. Assess the persistence of beta blocker use for post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients following a direct to patient intervention designed to increase rates of evidence-based long-term use of medications (beta blockers, lipid lowering agents, aspirin and ACE inhibitors) that increase survival following AMI.

2. Describe patient and system characteristics associated with differences in impact of the intervention

Research Design and Methods:

We will conduct a randomized controlled trial within the 4 participating HMOs (Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Health Partners, and Kaiser Permanente Georgia). Inpatient data will be used to identify patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of AMI 4-6 months before the extraction date. Practices will be block-randomized to the intervention group or to usual care. To increase repetition of the message, there will be two personalized mailings, occurring at 4-6 months post AMI, and at 9 months. The first message will include elements in the table below, and the repeat message will be shorter, but include similar information. The message will come from the patient's own health plan with the choice of specific individual (e.g. quality assurance department, medical director, or Chief of Cardiology) being informed by our qualitative work. This intervention will be done in collaboration with the cardiovascular care committees and quality assurance departments of participating Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
836
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinical diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) from 12/1/03 to 5/31/04
  • Beta-blocker dispensing following AMI
  • Beta-blocker dispensing prior to intervention date
Exclusion Criteria

None

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Beta-blocker adherence after an AMIBeta-blocker adherence after an AMIPatients received two mailings about the importance of beta blocker use.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adjusted Mean Monthly Percent of Days Covered With B-blocker Following Intervention Date9 months

The primary outcome measure adherence to B-blocker therapy post intervention. Adherence was measured by the degree of prescription filling in an interval derived from pharmacy prescription records by constructing a proportion-of-days-covered per-month measure, using the quantity dispensed and days supplied from each prescription

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (4)

Health Partners

🇺🇸

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Kaiser Permanent Center for Health Research

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Kaiser Permanente-Georgia

🇺🇸

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

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