Facilitated lipid management using interactive e-mail: preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2004;107(Pt 1):232-6.

Abstract

We describe the design and implementation of a clinical decision support system for ambulatory hyperlipidemia management. Despite readily available and evidence-based guidelines, cholesterol control remains persistently sub-optimal in clinical practice. "FastTrack" is an integrated, multi-faceted informatics tool to reduce barriers to effective cholesterol management by proactively integrating pertinent clinical information, evidence-based decision support and a simple means to act via a single FastTrack e-mail. We tested the intervention in a randomized, controlled trial involving 14 physicians and 276 patients. In an interim analysis, we found that physicians on average were able to review and act upon 9 patient e-mails in less than 15 minutes. Significantly more intervention patients were initiated on a statin therapy or had their dose increased (15.3% vs. 2.3%, p < 0.001). Impact of the intervention on LDL levels will be assessed at trial completion.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Decision Support Systems, Clinical*
  • Disease Management
  • Electronic Mail*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hypercholesterolemia / blood
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Middle Aged
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Software*

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors