Conclusions Organisational and professional interventions improved prescribing of statins/lipid-lowering agents and target blood pressure in patients with IHDs but there was little evidence of change in other outcomes .
Objectives Ischaemic heart diseases ( IHDs ) are a leading cause of death worldwide .
Although prescribing according to guidelines improves health outcomes , it remains suboptimal .
We determined whether interventions targeted at healthcare professionals are effective to enhance prescribing and health outcomes in patients with IHDs .
Using paper chart based clinical reminders to improve guideline adherence to lipid management.
RATIONALE , AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to apply a paper-based clinical reminder to improve the adherence to lipid guidelines . METHODS Patients with coronary heart disease ( CHD ) without lipid-lowering therapy ( LLT ) were recruited , and medical records were review ed . Eligible subjects were r and omized ; a clinical reminder stating current st and ards and local insurance policy was stamped on the paper chart in the study group but not in the control . The primary outcome was new LLT subscription in the 6-month follow-up period , and the secondary end point was the composite result of LLT or lipid profile check-up . RESULTS Ninety-two patients were assigned to the study group and 102 to the control group . The primary outcome showed no difference at the end of 6 months ( OR : 1.70 , P = 0.248 , 95 % CI : 0.69 - 4.19 ) . The secondary end point was significantly higher in the reminder group ( OR : 2.81 , P = 0.001 , 95 % CI : 1.57 - 5.04 ) . CONCLUSION A paper chart based clinical reminder providing up date clinical recommendations could modify the doctor 's behaviour and improve the attention to lipid levels . However , its effect can not be transformed into an increase in LLT or a decrease in low-density lipoprotein level owing to local policy constraint
Conclusions Organisational and professional interventions improved prescribing of statins/lipid-lowering agents and target blood pressure in patients with IHDs but there was little evidence of change in other outcomes .
Objectives Ischaemic heart diseases ( IHDs ) are a leading cause of death worldwide .
Although prescribing according to guidelines improves health outcomes , it remains suboptimal .
We determined whether interventions targeted at healthcare professionals are effective to enhance prescribing and health outcomes in patients with IHDs .