MEASURING THE IMPACT OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ON PHYSICIAN PRACTICE PATTERNS- EXPERTMD™ CV DIABETES
Author(s)
Joanna Nemis-White, BSc, Manager1, Pascal Beauchamp, BSc, Graduate Student2, Tessa Trasler, MSc, Manager1, Richard Lewanczuk, MD, Professor31Merck Frosst Canada Ltd, Montreal, QC, Canada; 2 University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; 3 University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Objective: Controlling risk factors/using cardioprotective therapies can reduce cardiovascular (CV) morbidity/mortality in diabetic patients 1)translating this evidence into practice can be challenging, and 2) many patients receive inadequate care. In an effort to help improve the care primary care physicians provide to patients with Diabetes (DM) in Canada, the ExpertMD™ CV Diabetes program was developed. To assess the impact of the ExpertMD™ program in improving physicians' management of the CV complications of DM patients. Methods: A total of 100 Canadian family physicians (FPs) voluntarily participated in the program. Physicians' management of the CV complications of patients with DM was assessed before (Pre-) and After (Post-) implementation of the ExpertMD™ program via self-audit. Clinical data parameters, gathered via case report forms submitted on-line, examined State of Care at Visit Entry and Visit Exit, Pre- and Post- Program. Twenty-four FPs recruited as a control group solely for the self-audit submitted paper-based forms to the data centre. Data were cleaned/analyzed by Groupe D'analyse, Ltee, Montréal, QC. Results: At Visit Entry, more patients were at BP goal (<130/80) Post program in both FP groups (ExpertMD™: 34.3% vs. 29.2%, p=0.01; Control: 47.5% vs. 34.3%, p=0.02). At Visit Exit, Physician management of glucose (A1c <3 months, 80.8% vs. 77%, p:0.05), cholesterol screening <12 months (93.7% vs. 89.5%, p:0.002), ACR screening <12 months (95.6% vs. 90.5, p:0.0004), obesity screening via waist measurement (28.2% vs. 12.5%, p<0.0001) and ASA use (86.9% vs. 77.5%, p<0.0001) was significantly higher Post- versus Pre- program for ExpertMD™ participants. Post- program Control FPs checked BP at office visit (100% vs. 74.9%, p<0.0001), monitored ACR (92.8% vs. 83.5%, p=0.04) and used ASA (96.1% vs. 82.4%, p:0.0002) significantly more often. Conclusion: The results indicate the ExpertMD™ CV Diabetes program positively impacted physician practice patterns, enhancing the care provided to DM patients.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2008-05, ISPOR 2008, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Value in Health, Vol. 11, No. 3 (May/June 2008)
Code
PDB78
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Organizational Practices, Specialized Treatment Areas
Topic Subcategory
Academic & Educational, Personalized & Precision Medicine, Prescribing Behavior, Quality of Care Measurement
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders