Electronic Warning System for Atrial Fibrillation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this randomized controlled study is to evaluate whether a newly designed electronic warning system will increase the initiation rate of adequate stroke preventive measures in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Detailed Description
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A large proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation do not receive stroke prevention therapy in line with the guidelines, in spite of the presence of an increased risk of stroke. It will be investigated whether an electronic alert to physicians, whose patients with atrial fibrillation do not receive stroke preventive measures, will increase the rate of adequate stroke preventive measures as compared to a control group of patients without an electronic alert. The electronic alerts will be sent if patients with atrial fibrillation but without adequate stroke preventive measures receive in-patient treatment at the University Hospital Bern. The electronic alert system includes a feature that helps the physicians in charge to evaluate the CHA2DS2VASC Score. At the end of the hospital stay medical discharge letters will be reviewed for initiation of adequate stroke preventive measures.

Official Title
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Electronic Warning System to Improve Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation - A Quality Improvement Initiative at the University Hospital Bern

Conditions
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Atrial Fibrillation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Electronic warning alert


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: All in-patients with atrial fibrillation Exclusion Criteria: Ongoing anticoagulant therapy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Electronic alert<br>Physicians, whose patients with atrial fibrillation do not receive stroke preventive measures, will receive an electronic warning alert. | Other: Electronic warning alert<br>* A newly-installed warning system for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.<br>|
| No Intervention: No electronic alert<br>Physicians, whose patients with atrial fibrillation do not receive stroke preventive measures, will receive no electronic warning alert. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rate of initiation of adequate measures to prevent stroke (oral anticoagulant prescription) by physician in charge | Reviewed from discharge letter | End of hospital stay (expected average duration of 1 week) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Use of the CHA2DS2VASc score calculation tool by the physician in charge |  | During hospital stay (expected average duration of 1 week) | 
| Rate of correct evaluation of the CHA2DS2VASC Score through the calculation tool by physician in charge |  | End of hospital stay (expected average duration of 1 week) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Prevention, Anticoagulation, Electronic warning system