Interventions to improve OP management had a significant positive impact on prescription of BMD measurement but a more limited impact on treatment prescription
Osteoporosis ( OP ) is a major public health concern , but still OP care does not meet guidelines .
Interventions have been developed to improve appropriate OP management .
The objective of the present study was to systematic ally review the current literature to ascertain the efficacy of interventions to improve OP care and characterize interventions taking into account elements related to their potential cost and feasibility .
Electronic medical record reminder improves osteoporosis management after a fracture: a randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVES Osteoporosis treatment rates after a fracture are low . This study evaluated methods to increase guideline -recommended osteoporosis care postfracture . DESIGN Participants were r and omly assigned to  usual care or one of two interventions . Analysis of primary outcomes used electronic data and linear regression . SETTING A Pacific Northwest nonprofit health maintenance organization . PARTICIPANTS Female patients aged 50 to 89 who suffered a fracture in 1999 and had not received bone mineral density ( BMD ) measurement or medication for osteoporosis ( n=311 ) and their primary care providers ( n=159 ) . INTERVENTION Patient-specific clinical guideline advice to the primary care provider delivered by electronic medical record ( EMR ) message or electronic reminder to the provider plus an educational letter mailed to the patient . MEASUREMENTS BMD measurement and osteoporosis medication . RESULTS At 6 months , provider reminder result ed in 51.5 % of patients receiving BMD measurement or osteoporosis medication , provider reminder plus patient education result ed in 43.1 % , and usual care result ed in 5.9 % ( P<.001 ) . The effect of provider advice combined with patient education was not significantly different from provider advice alone ( P=.88 ) . Patients aged 60 to 69 were 18 % ( 95 % confidence interval=3 - 34 ) more likely to receive BMD measurement or an osteoporosis medication than those aged 80 to 89 . CONCLUSION Patient-specific postfracture advice to the provider through an EMR message significantly increased BMD measurement and osteoporosis medication . As EMRs become more widespread , this intervention could improve osteoporosis management for many postfracture patients . Future research should identify barriers to and facilitators of care for older , high-risk patients
Interventions to improve OP management had a significant positive impact on prescription of BMD measurement but a more limited impact on treatment prescription
Osteoporosis ( OP ) is a major public health concern , but still OP care does not meet guidelines .
Interventions have been developed to improve appropriate OP management .
The objective of the present study was to systematic ally review the current literature to ascertain the efficacy of interventions to improve OP care and characterize interventions taking into account elements related to their potential cost and feasibility .