Implementation of an educational province-wide intervention to reduce redundant vitamin B12 testing: A cross-sectional study
| Autor: | Pavandeep Gill, Cheryl K. Lau, Christopher Naugler, Maggie Guo |
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| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
030213 general clinical medicine
medicine.medical_specialty business.industry Cross-sectional study Clinical Biochemistry Observation period nutritional and metabolic diseases General Medicine Limiting 030204 cardiovascular system & hematology Test (assessment) 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Intervention (counseling) polycyclic compounds Physical therapy medicine Observational study Vitamin B12 business Utilization management |
| Zdroj: | Clinical Biochemistry. 76:1-4 |
| ISSN: | 0009-9120 |
| Popis: | Introduction We describe the implementation of an Alberta-wide intervention aimed at educating clinicians about redundant vitamin B12 testing. We hypothesized that the introduction of an educational comment outlining recommended vitamin B12 test intervals would reduce the annual number of vitamin B12 tests performed. Materials and methods We performed a cross-sectional observational study that included all vitamin B12 tests ordered in Alberta between May 1, 2017 and April 30, 2018. An educational comment was appended to all vitamin B12 test results in Alberta beginning May 2, 2017. Using a simple seasonal model, we compared predicted versus observed vitamin B12 test volumes for the 12-month period following the introduction of the educational comment. The sole outcome measured was the monthly change in volume of vitamin B12 testing. A cost-analysis of the effects of the intervention on test volumes was also performed. Results Over the sum of the first 12 months of the intervention, 18,000 more vitamin B12 tests were ordered compared to the predicted value in Alberta. With an estimated cost of $7 per test, this resulted in a $126,000 increase in costs for vitamin B12 testing provincially. Conclusions An educational intervention aimed at limiting inappropriate vitamin B12 testing in Alberta did not alter testing as desired. Multiple utilization management strategies and a longer observation period may be needed to reduce redundant vitamin B12 testing. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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