Beta-Blockers in Heart Failure: Pharmacy-level Intervention Comparison

US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Heart Failure

Treatments: Other: Level 1: (provide site-specifi information); Other: Level 2 (Provide site- and patient-specific information)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT01002456

VMS #120 (Other Identifier)

RRP 09-136

Details and patient eligibility

About

The overall objective of the proposed pilot study is to begin evaluation of two methods for promoting adherence to guidelines for beta-blocker therapy in heart failure. The design includes site level baseline measurement, feedback, remeasurement after six months, and randomized (by site) comparison samples. The setting is VA sites, with intervention directed at the pharmacy.

Full description

Current evidence-based guidelines in VA recommend one of three beta-blockers (carvedilol, metoprolol succinate, or bisoprolol) that have been shown to reduce mortality in heart failure patients with systolic dysfunction, with recommended target doses. However, Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) data indicate that prescribing for beta-blockers in heart failure patients that is not in accordance with guidelines is substantial, both in terms of the agent selected and the dose. Sites will be recruited and randomized to two different intensities of intervention to promote adherence to guidelines.

Enrollment: 220 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• VA sites
• Males and females

Exclusion criteria

none

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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220 participants in 2 patient groups

Level 1: site-specific information

Other group

Description:

provide site-specific information on nonadherence

Treatment:

Other: Level 1: (provide site-specifi information)

Level 2: site-, patient-specific info

Other group

Description:

provide site- and patient-specific information on nonadherence

Treatment:

Other: Level 2 (Provide site- and patient-specific information)