PCP Statin Prescribing Up With Automated Patient Dashboard

Guideline-concordant statin prescribing rates are increased modestly with use of an automated dashboard using active choice framing and peer comparison, according to a study published online July 27 in JAMA Network Open.

Mitesh S. Patel, M.D., M.B.A., from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues conducted a three-arm cluster randomized trial involving 96 primary care physicians (PCPs) and 4,774 patients not previously receiving statin therapy. In the two intervention arms, PCPs were asked to make an active choice to prescribe atorvastatin 20 mg daily, atorvastatin at a different dose, another statin, or not to prescribe a statin and give a reason. In one of the intervention arms, the physicians were rated on their statin prescribing rates compared with their peers.

The researchers found that 50 percent of PCPs in the active choice arm accessed the dashboard and only 6.3 percent signed prescription statin orders. In the active choice with peer comparison arm, 37.5 and 25.0 percent of PCPs accessed the patient dashboard and signed statin prescription orders, respectively. Statins were prescribed to 2.6, 6.7, and 8.0 percent of patients in the usual care, active choice, and active choice with peer comparison arms, respectively. There was a significant increase in statin prescribing in the active choice with peer comparison arm compared with usual care.

"An automated patient dashboard using both active choice framing and peer comparison feedback led to a modest but significant increase in guideline-concordant statin prescribing rates," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the health care industry.

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