Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Use in the VA System

Stanford University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Cardiomyopathies

Treatments: Behavioral: Clinical Reminder

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency; Industry

Identifiers

NCT01217827

IRB 15312

SU-08102010-6708

Details and patient eligibility

About

Despite being a proven life-saving intervention in appropriately selected individuals, multiple studies continue to demonstrate low implantation of defibrillators in potential candidates. Based upon prior research, a major barrier to low utilization is low referral of potential candidates by healthcare providers. In this study, via brief clinical reminder placed in the electronic medical record, we ask healthcare providers who have not referred potential candidates for defibrillator the reasons for this decision and provide them with the tools for referral if appropriate.

Enrollment: 89 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:Meeting published criteria for receipt of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator Exclusion Criteria:provider is not affiliated with the VA health care system

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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89 participants in 2 patient groups

Clinical Reminder

Experimental group

Description:

Reminder of potential candidacy for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The reminder is placed in the medical record with copy to the primary provider and any cardiologist managing the patient.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Clinical Reminder

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

This group does not receive an intervention.