One type A service with a valid control group showed a significant decrease in re-fractures .
Types A and B services were cost-effective , although definition of cost-effectiveness varied between studies .
Fully coordinated , intensive models of care for secondary fracture prevention are more effective in improving patient outcomes than approaches involving alerts and /or education only
Most people presenting with incident osteoporotic fractures are neither assessed nor treated for osteoporosis to reduce their risk of further fractures , despite the availability of effective treatments .
We evaluated the effectiveness of published models of care for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures .
Nurse case-manager vs multifaceted intervention to improve quality of osteoporosis care after wrist fracture: randomized controlled pilot study
Summary Few out patients with fractures are treated for osteoporosis in the years following fracture . In a r and omized pilot study , we found a nurse case-manager could double rates of osteoporosis testing and treatment compared with a proven efficacious quality improvement strategy directed at patients and physicians ( 57 % vs 28 % rates of appropriate care ) . Introduction Few patients with fractures are treated for osteoporosis . An intervention directed at wrist fracture patients ( education ) and physicians ( guidelines , reminders ) tripled osteoporosis treatment rates compared to controls ( 22 % vs 7 % within 6 months of fracture ) . More effective strategies are needed . Methods We undertook a pilot study that compared a nurse case-manager to the multifaceted intervention using a r and omized trial design . The case-manager counseled patients , arranged bone mineral density ( BMD ) tests , and prescribed treatments . We included controls from our first trial who remained untreated for osteoporosis 1-year post-fracture . Primary outcome was  bisphosphonate treatment and secondary outcomes were BMD testing , appropriate care ( BMD test-treatment if bone mass low ) , and costs . Results Forty six patients untreated 1-year after wrist fracture were r and omized to case-manager ( n = 21 ) or multifaceted intervention ( n = 25 ) . Median age was 60 years and 68 % were female . Six months post-r and omization , 9 ( 43 % ) case-managed patients were treated with bisphosphonates  compared with 3 ( 12 % ) multifaceted intervention patients ( relative risk [ RR ] 3.6 , 95 % confidence intervals [ CI ] 1.1–11.5 , p = 0.019 ) . Case-managed patients were more likely than multifaceted intervention patients to undergo BMD tests ( 81 % vs 52 % , RR 1.6 , 95%CI 1.1–2.4 , p = 0.042 ) and receive appropriate care ( 57 % vs 28 % , RR 2.0 , 95%CI 1.0–4.2 , p = 0.048 ) . Case-management cost was $ 44 ( CDN ) per patient vs $ 12 for the multifaceted intervention . Conclusions A nurse case-manager substantially increased rates of appropriate testing and treatment for osteoporosis in patients at high-risk of future fracture when compared with a multifaceted quality improvement intervention aim ed at patients and physicians . Even with case-management , nearly half of patients did not receive appropriate care . Trial Registry clinical trials.gov identifier :
One type A service with a valid control group showed a significant decrease in re-fractures .
Types A and B services were cost-effective , although definition of cost-effectiveness varied between studies .
Fully coordinated , intensive models of care for secondary fracture prevention are more effective in improving patient outcomes than approaches involving alerts and /or education only
Most people presenting with incident osteoporotic fractures are neither assessed nor treated for osteoporosis to reduce their risk of further fractures , despite the availability of effective treatments .
We evaluated the effectiveness of published models of care for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures .