Electronic physician notifications to improve guideline-based anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Oral anticoagulants reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, many patients with atrial fibrillation at elevated stroke risk are not treated with oral anticoagulants.

Objective

To test whether electronic notifications sent to primary care physicians increase the proportion of ambulatory patients prescribed oral anticoagulants.

Design

Randomized controlled trial conducted from February to May 2017 within 18 practices in an academic primary care network.

Participants

Primary care physicians (n = 175) and their patients with atrial fibrillation, at elevated stroke risk, and not prescribed oral anticoagulants.

Intervention

Patients of each physician were randomized to the notification or usual care arm. Physicians re

SUBMITTER: Ashburner JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6258628 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature