Community-Based, Cluster-Randomized Trial of Electronic Alert-Based Computerized Decision Support to Prevent Stroke in High-Risk Ambulatory Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (AF-ALERT3)
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most preventable cause of stroke. However, despite widely available risk stratification tools, numerous options for oral anticoagulation, and evidence-based practice guidelines, anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF is consistently under-prescribed. In a pair of observational cohort analyses within the Mass General Brigham (MGB) health system, prescription of anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF was less frequent in ambulatory clinic patients than in those who were hospitalized at the time of assessment (46.9% vs. 57.2%). Two single academic medical center randomized controlled trials demonstrated success for increasing adherence to guideline recommendations for stroke prevention in AF. To address the feasibility and impact of a computerized decision support (CDS) strategy in the non-tertiary care, community medical center setting, this study will involve a multicenter, cluster-randomized controlled trial of a more sophisticated CDS focused not only on implementation stroke prevention but also on bleeding risk assessment and management.
Description
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most preventable cause of stroke. However, despite widely available risk stratification tools, numerous options for oral anticoagulation, and evidence-based practice guidelines, anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF is consistently under-prescribed. In a pair of observational cohort analyses within the MGB health system, prescription of anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF was less frequent in ambulatory clinic patients than in those who were hospitalized at the time of assessment (46.9% vs. 57.2%). Implementation science strategies, including compu…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Male and Female * Age ≥ 18 years * Problem list entry of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter * CHA2DS2VASc score ≥ 2 for males * CHA2DS2VASc score ≥ 3 for females * No prescription for anticoagulant therapy Exclusion Criteria: * Active prescription for anticoagulant therapy * CHA2DS2VASc score \< 2 for males * CHA2DS2VASc score ≤ 2 for females
Interventions
- BehavioralAlert-based computerized decision support
An on-screen electronic alert will be issued during the outpatient clinical encounter that notifies the provider that his or her patient is at risk for stroke due to AF, and that there is no order for anticoagulation. Clinicians who receive the computer alert will have three options: 1) access an order template of FDA-approved anticoagulation regimens for stroke prevention in AF, 2) follow a link to evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to learn more about stroke prevention in AF, or 3) continue with order entry after providing an explanation for why anticoagulation was not prescribed.
Locations (2)
- St. Elizabeth HealthEdgewood, Kentucky
- Mass General BrighamBoston, Massachusetts