Study protocol
A cluster randomised controlled trial of educational prompts in diabetes care: study protocol
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* Corresponding author: Robbie Foy r.c.foy@ncl.ac.uk
1 Institute for Health and Society, Newcastle University, 21 Claremont Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK
2 Newcastle Primary Care Trust, Benfield Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE6 4PF, UK
3 Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
4 Grampian University Hospitals Trust, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, UK
5 Ottawa Health Research Institute, 725 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada
Implementation Science 2007, 2:22 doi:10.1186/1748-5908-2-22
Published: 24 July 2007Abstract
Background
Laboratory services have a central role in supporting screening, diagnosis, and management of patients. The increase in chronic disease management in primary care for conditions such as diabetes mellitus requires regular monitoring of patients' biochemical parameters. This process offers a route for improving the quality of care that patients receive by using test results as a vehicle for delivering educational messages as well as the test result itself.
Aim
To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a quality improvement initiative to improve the care of patients with diabetes using test report reminders.
Design
A programme of four cluster randomised controlled trials within one population of general practices.
Participants
General practices in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
Intervention
Brief educational messages added to paper and electronic general practice laboratory test reports introduced over two phases. Phase One messages, attached to Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reports, targeted glycaemic and cholesterol control. Phase Two messages, attached to albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) reports, targeted blood pressure (BP) control and foot inspection.
Outcomes
General practice mean levels of HbA1c and cholesterol (Phase One) and diastolic and systolic BP and proportions of patients having undergone foot inspections (Phase Two); number of tests requested.
Trial registration
Current Controlled Trial ISRCTN2186314.