26
|
Kelley MA, Persell SD, Linder JA, Friedberg MW, Meeker D, Fox CR, Goldstein NJ, Knight TK, Zein D, Sullivan M, Doctor JN. The protocol of the Application of Economics & Social psychology to improve Opioid Prescribing Safety trial 2 (AESOPS-2): Availability of opioid harm. Contemp Clin Trials 2022; 112:106650. [PMID: 34896295 PMCID: PMC8869359 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High levels of opioid prescribing in the United States has resulted in an alarming trend in opioid-related harms. The objective of Trial 2 of the Application of Economics & Social psychology to improve Opioid Prescribing Safety (AESOPS-2) is to dampen the intensity and frequency of opioid prescribing in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to "go low and slow". We aim to accomplish this by notifying clinicians of harmful patient outcomes, which we expect to increase the mental availability of risks associated with opioid use. METHODS The trial is multi-site. Random assignment determines if prescribers to persons who suffer an opioid overdose (fatal or nonfatal) learn of this event (intervention) or practice usual care (control). Clinicians in the intervention group receive a letter notifying them of their patient's overdose. The primary outcome is the change in clinician weekly milligram morphine equivalent (MME) prescribed in a 6-month period before and after receiving the letter. Additional outcomes are the change in the proportion of patients prescribed at least 50 daily MME and in the proportion of patients referred to medication assisted treatment. Group differences in these outcomes will be compared using an intent-to-treat difference-in-differences framework with a mixed-effects regression model to estimate clinician MME. DISCUSSION The AESOPS-2 trial will provide new knowledge about whether increasing prescribers' awareness of patients' opioid-related overdoses leads to a reduction in opioid prescribing. Additionally, this trial may better inform how to reduce opioid use disorder and opioid overdoses by lowering population exposure to these drugs. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04758637.
Collapse
|
27
|
Kelley MA, Lucas J, Stewart E, Goldman D, Doctor JN. Opioid-related deaths before and after COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in Los Angeles County. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 228:109028. [PMID: 34500239 PMCID: PMC8411574 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid-related morbidity and mortality has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet specific information about the communities most affected remains unknown. Our objective is to evaluate decedent-level associations with an opioid-related death following the implementation of stay-at-home orders in Los Angeles County. METHODS This retrospective cohort study used data from the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner to identify opioid-related deaths in 2019 and 2020. We used logistic regression to analyze the change in opioid-related deaths following a 30-day washout period after the start of stay-at-home orders. Independent variables included decedent age, gender, race and ethnicity, heroin or fentanyl present at the time of death, census tract-level education, and a scheduled drug prescription in the year before death. RESULTS Opioid-related deaths in L.A. County are most common in census tracts where a small percentage of the population has a Bachelor's degree. Following stay-at-home orders, Non-Hispanic Caucasian individuals had significantly more opioid-related deaths than Hispanic individuals (risk ratio (RR): 1.82 [95 % CI, 1.10-3.02]; P < 0.05) after adjusting for age, gender, and heroin or fentanyl use. Racial and ethnic differences in mortality were not explained by census tract-level education or recent scheduled drug prescriptions. DISCUSSION There has been an alarming rise in opioid-related deaths in L.A. County during 2020. The increase in opioid-related overdose deaths following the onset of COVID-19 and related policies occurred most often among Non-Hispanic Caucasian individuals. Further research on this trend's underlying cause is needed to inform policy recommendations during these simultaneous public health crises.
Collapse
|
28
|
Kim J, Neumann L, Paul P, Day ME, Aratow M, Bell DS, Doctor JN, Hinske LC, Jiang X, Kim KK, Matheny ME, Meeker D, Pletcher MJ, Schilling LM, SooHoo S, Xu H, Zheng K, Ohno-Machado L. Privacy-protecting, reliable response data discovery using COVID-19 patient observations. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2021; 28:1765-1776. [PMID: 34051088 PMCID: PMC8194878 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocab054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To utilize, in an individual and institutional privacy-preserving manner, electronic health record (EHR) data from 202 hospitals by analyzing answers to COVID-19-related questions and posting these answers online. MATERIALS AND METHODS We developed a distributed, federated network of 12 health systems that harmonized their EHRs and submitted aggregate answers to consortia questions posted at https://www.covid19questions.org. Our consortium developed processes and implemented distributed algorithms to produce answers to a variety of questions. We were able to generate counts, descriptive statistics, and build a multivariate, iterative regression model without centralizing individual-level data. RESULTS Our public website contains answers to various clinical questions, a web form for users to ask questions in natural language, and a list of items that are currently pending responses. The results show, for example, that patients who were taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, within the year before admission, had lower unadjusted in-hospital mortality rates. We also showed that, when adjusted for, age, sex, and ethnicity were not significantly associated with mortality. We demonstrated that it is possible to answer questions about COVID-19 using EHR data from systems that have different policies and must follow various regulations, without moving data out of their health systems. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS We present an alternative or a complement to centralized COVID-19 registries of EHR data. We can use multivariate distributed logistic regression on observations recorded in the process of care to generate results without transferring individual-level data outside the health systems.
Collapse
|
29
|
Bradley-Ewing A, Lee BR, Doctor JN, Meredith G, Goggin K, Myers A. A pilot intervention combining assessment and feedback with communication training and behavioral nudges to increase HPV vaccine uptake. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 18:1885968. [PMID: 34085873 PMCID: PMC8920206 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1885968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes >40,000 cancer diagnoses each year, yet vaccination rates remain low because widespread implementation of strategies to increase vaccinations has not occurred. Behavioral nudges have demonstrated efficacy in improving uptake of desired behaviors in health care settings but have not been tested for increasing HPV vaccinations. We assessed the impact of an intervention combining behavioral nudges with other proven strategies (i.e., assessment and feedback, provider communication training) on HPV vaccination rates and parental satisfaction in four Midwestern pediatric, outpatient practices. Practices were randomly assigned to receive either assessment and feedback or assessment and feedback combined with vaccine communication training and behavioral nudges in the form of vaccine commitment posters. Providers (n = 16) completed surveys regarding vaccine policies and parents (n = 215) reported on their child's vaccine history and satisfaction with the consultation. Three practices increased HPV vaccination rates (1-10%); however, there was no statistically significant difference by study arm. Most parents (M age 41.3; SD 8.1; 85% female, 68% White) indicated their child had previously initiated the HPV vaccine series (61%) and 72% indicated receipt of an HPV vaccine during the study visit. Concerns among HPV vaccine-hesitant parents (28%) included vaccine safety and believing the vaccine is unnecessary (40%). Most parents were satisfied with their consultation. Practices in both intervention groups increased vaccination rates. While some parents continue to harbor concerns about vaccine safety and necessity, parents welcomed discussions about HPV and were satisfied with their provider's communication regardless of their vaccine decisions.
Collapse
|
30
|
Rowe TA, Brown T, Doctor JN, Linder JA, Persell SD. Examining primary care physician rationale for not following geriatric choosing wisely recommendations. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2021; 22:95. [PMID: 33992080 PMCID: PMC8126116 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01440-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Background The objective is to understand why physicians order tests or treatments in older adults contrary to published recommendations. Methods Participants: Physicians above the median for ≥ 1 measures of overuse representing 3 Choosing Wisely topics. Measurements: Participants evaluated decisions in a semi-structured interview regarding: 1) Screening men aged ≥ 76 with prostate specific antigen 2) Ordering urine studies in women ≥ 65 without symptoms 3) Overtreating adults aged ≥ 75 with insulin or oral hypoglycemic medications. Two investigators independently coded transcripts using qualitative analysis. Results Nineteen interviews were conducted across the three topics resulting in four themes. First, physicians were aware and knowledgeable of guidelines. Second, perceived patient preference towards overuse influenced physician action even when physicians felt strongly that testing was not indicated. Third, physicians overestimated benefits of a test and underemphasized potential harms. Fourth, physicians were resistant to change when patients appeared to be doing well. Conclusions Though physicians expressed awareness to avoid overuse, deference to patient preferences and the tendency to distort the chance of benefit over harm influenced decisions to order testing. Approaches for decreasing unnecessary testing must account for perceived patient preferences, make the potential harms of overtesting salient, and address clinical inertia among patients who appear to be doing well. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-021-01440-w.
Collapse
|
31
|
Duan L, Doctor JN, Adams JL, Romley JA, Nguyen LA, An J, Lee MS. Comparison of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Bioprosthetic Heart Valves. Am J Cardiol 2021; 146:22-28. [PMID: 33529622 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There are limited data regarding direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for stroke prevention in patients with bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) and atrial fibrillation (AF). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ambulatory utilization of DOACs and to compare the effectiveness and safety of DOACs versus warfarin in patients with AF and BHVs. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a large integrated health care delivery system in California. Patients with BHVs and AF treated with warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban between September 12, 2011 and June 18, 2020 were identified. Inverse probability of treatment-weighted comparative effectiveness and safety of DOACs compared with warfarin were determined. Use of DOACs gradually increased since 2011, with a significant upward in trend after a stay-at-home order related to COVID-19. Among 2,672 adults with BHVs and AF who met the inclusion criteria, 439 were exposed to a DOAC and 2233 were exposed to warfarin. For the primary effectiveness outcome of ischemic stroke, systemic embolism and transient ischemic attack, no significant association was observed between use of DOACs compared with warfarin (HR 1.19, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.48, p = 0.11). Use of DOACs was associated with lower risk of the primary safety outcome of intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other bleed (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.85, p < 0.001). Results were consistent across multiple subgroups in the sensitivity analyses. These findings support the use of DOACs for AF in patients with BHVs.
Collapse
|
32
|
Kelley MA, Persell SD, Linder JA, Friedberg MW, Meeker D, Fox CR, Goldstein NJ, Knight TK, Zein D, Rowe TA, Sullivan MD, Doctor JN. The protocol of the Application of Economics & Social psychology to improve Opioid Prescribing Safety Trial 1 (AESOPS-1): Electronic health record nudges. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 103:106329. [PMID: 33636344 PMCID: PMC8089040 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a lack of evidence that long-term opioid use offers benefit for noncancer pain and an abundance of evidence of harm. Despite clinical guidelines and education, prescribing continues at a higher rate than before the opioids crisis. The objective of trial 1 of the Application of Economics & Social psychology to improve Opioid Prescribing Safety (AESOPS-1) is to discourage unnecessary opioid prescribing in primary care by applying "behavioral insights"-empirically-tested social and psychological interventions that affect choice. METHODS AESOPS-1 randomizes primary care clinics in Illinois and California to behavioral intervention or control. Both arms receive opioid guideline education. Clinics randomized to the behavioral intervention arm receive nudges within the electronic health record (EHR) including: 1) an "accountable justification" entered in the chart, 2) a precommitment to address high-risk prescriptions, and 3) a "PainTracker" that broadens discussions about pain. The control arm receives no EHR-based intervention. The primary outcome is the change in weekly milligram morphine equivalents (MME) prescribed. The secondary outcome is the change in the proportion of patients prescribed at least 50 daily MME. To evaluate these outcomes, we will use a difference-in-differences mixed-effects regression model on clinician MME weekly or daily dose. The analysis will be "intent-to-treat." The intervention period is 18-months, with a 6-month follow-up period to measure persistence of effects. DISCUSSION The AESOPS-1 trial will evaluate the effect of EHR-based interventions in reducing noncancer opioid prescribing in primary care. AESOPS-1 may demonstrate practical and scalable strategies to lower unnecessary population exposure to opioids.
Collapse
|
33
|
Doctor JN, Vaidya J, Jiang X, Wang S, Schilling LM, Ong T, Matheny ME, Ohno-Machado L, Meeker D. Efficient determination of equivalence for encrypted data. Comput Secur 2020; 97. [PMID: 33223585 DOI: 10.1016/j.cose.2020.101939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Secure computation of equivalence has fundamental application in many different areas, including health-care. We study this problem in the context of matching an individual's identity to link medical records across systems under the socialist millionaires' problem: Two millionaires wish to determine if their fortunes are equal without disclosing their net worth (Boudot, et al. 2001). In Theorem 2, we show that when a "greater than" algorithm is carried out on a totally ordered set it is easy to achieve secure matching without additional rounds of communication. We present this efficient solution to assess equivalence using a set intersection algorithm designed for "greater than" computation and demonstrate its effectiveness on equivalence of arbitrary data values, as well as demonstrate how it meets regulatory criteria for risk of disclosure.
Collapse
|
34
|
Kim J, Neumann L, Paul P, Aratow M, Bell DS, Doctor JN, Hinske LC, Jiang X, Kim KK, Matheny ME, Meeker D, Pletcher MJ, Schilling LM, Soohoo S, Xu H, Zheng K, Ohno-machado L, for the R2D2 Consortium. Privacy-Protecting, Reliable Response Data Discovery Using COVID-19 Patient Observations.. [PMID: 32995818 PMCID: PMC7523159 DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.21.20196220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to answer questions related to COVID-19’s clinical course and associations with underlying conditions and health outcomes. Multi-center data are necessary to generate reliable answers, but centralizing data in a single repository is not always possible. Using a privacy-protecting strategy, we launched a public Questions & Answers web portal (https://covid19questions.org) with analyses of comorbidities, medications and laboratory tests using data from 202 hospitals (59,074 COVID-19 patients) in the USA and Germany. We find, for example, that 8.6% of hospitalizations in which the patient was not admitted to the ICU resulted in the patient returning to the hospital within seven days from discharge and that, when adjusted for age, mortality for hospitalized patients was not significantly different by gender or ethnicity. Publicly Sharing Knowledge on COVID19 Without Sharing Patient-Level Data: A Privacy-Protecting Multivariate Analysis Approach
Collapse
|
35
|
Fox CR, Doctor JN, Goldstein NJ, Meeker D, Persell SD, Linder JA. Details matter: predicting when nudging clinicians will succeed or fail. BMJ 2020; 370:m3256. [PMID: 32933926 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m3256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
36
|
Zetts RM, Stoesz A, Garcia AM, Doctor JN, Gerber JS, Linder JA, Hyun DY. Primary care physicians' attitudes and perceptions towards antibiotic resistance and outpatient antibiotic stewardship in the USA: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e034983. [PMID: 32665343 PMCID: PMC7365421 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES At least 30% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary. Outpatient antibiotic stewardship is needed to improve prescribing and address the threat of antibiotic resistance. A better understanding of primary care physicians (PCPs) attitudes towards antibiotic prescribing and outpatient antibiotic stewardship is needed to identify barriers to stewardship implementation and help tailor stewardship strategies. The aim of this study was to assess PCPs current attitudes towards antibiotic resistance, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and the feasibility of outpatient stewardship efforts. DESIGN Eight focus groups with PCPs were conducted by an independent moderator using a moderator guide. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed and coded for major themes using deductive and inductive content analysis methods. SETTING Focus groups were conducted in four US cities: Philadelphia, Birmingham, Chicago and Los Angeles. PARTICIPANTS Two focus groups were conducted in each city-one with family medicine and internal medicine physicians and one with paediatricians. A total of 26 family medicine/internal medicine physicians and 26 paediatricians participated. RESULTS Participants acknowledged that resistance is an important public health issue, but not as important as other pressing problems (eg, obesity, opioids). Many considered resistance to be more of a hospital issue. While participants recognised inappropriate prescribing as a problem in outpatient settings, many felt that the key drivers were non-primary care settings (eg, urgent care clinics, retail clinics) and patient demand. Participants reacted positively to stewardship efforts aimed at educating patients and clinicians. They questioned the validity of antibiotic prescribing metrics. This scepticism was due to a number of factors, including the feasibility of capturing prescribing quality, a belief that physicians will 'game the system' to improve their measures, and dissatisfaction and distrust of quality measurement in general. CONCLUSIONS Stakeholders will need to consider physician attitudes and beliefs about antibiotic stewardship when implementing interventions aimed at improving prescribing.
Collapse
|
37
|
Zetts RM, Garcia AM, Doctor JN, Gerber JS, Linder JA, Hyun DY. Primary Care Physicians' Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Antibiotic Resistance and Antibiotic Stewardship: A National Survey. Open Forum Infect Dis 2020; 7:ofaa244. [PMID: 32782909 PMCID: PMC7406830 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Outpatient antibiotic stewardship is needed to reduce inappropriate prescribing and minimize the development of resistant bacteria. We assessed primary care physicians’ perceptions of antibiotic resistance, antibiotic use, and the need for stewardship activities. Methods We conducted a national online survey of 1550 internal, family, and pediatric medicine physicians in the United States recruited from an opt-in panel of healthcare professionals. Descriptive statistics were generated for respondent demographics and question responses. Responses were also stratified by geographic region and medical specialty, with a χ 2 test used to assess for differences. Results More respondents agreed that antibiotic resistance was a problem in the United States (94%) than in their practice (55%) and that inappropriate antibiotic prescribing was a problem in outpatient settings (91%) than in their practice (37%). In addition, 60% agreed that they prescribed antibiotics more appropriately than their peers. Most respondents (91%) believed that antibiotic stewardship was appropriate in office-based practices, but they ranked antibiotic resistance as less important than other public health issues such as obesity, diabetes, opioids, smoking, and vaccine hesitancy. Approximately half (47%) believed they would need a lot of help to implement stewardship. Respondents indicated that they were likely to implement antibiotic stewardship efforts in response to feedback or incentives provided by payers or health departments. Conclusions Primary care physicians generally did not recognize antibiotic resistance and inappropriate prescribing as issues in their practice. This poses a challenge for the success of outpatient stewardship. Healthcare stakeholders will need to explore opportunities for feedback and incentive activities to encourage stewardship uptake.
Collapse
|
38
|
Rowe TA, Brown T, Lee JY, Linder JA, Friedberg MW, Doctor JN, Meeker D, Ciolino JD, Persell SD. Clinician-Level Variation in Three Measures Representing Overuse Based on the American Geriatrics Society Choosing Wisely Statement. J Gen Intern Med 2020; 35:1797-1802. [PMID: 32128687 PMCID: PMC7280408 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-05748-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The extent of clinician-level variation in the overuse of testing or treatment in older adults is not well understood. OBJECTIVE To examine clinician-level variation for three new measures of potentially inappropriate use of medical services in older adults. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of overall means and clinician-level variation in performance on three new measures. SUBJECTS Adults aged 65 years and older who had office visits with outpatient primary or immediate care clinicians within a single academic medical center health system between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017. MEASURES Two electronic clinical quality measures representing potentially inappropriate use of medical services in older adults: prostate-specific antigen testing against guidelines (PSA) in men aged 76 and older; urinalysis or urine culture for non-specific reasons in women aged 65 and older; and one intermediate outcome measure: hemoglobin A1c less than 7.0 in adults aged 75 and older with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication. RESULTS Sixty-nine clinicians and 2009 patients contributed observations to the PSA measure, 144 clinicians and 5933 patients contributed to the urinalysis/urine culture measure, and 42 clinicians and 665 patients contributed to the diabetes measure. Meaningful clinician-level performance variation was greatest for the PSA measure (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.27), followed by the urinalysis/urine culture measure (ICC = 0.18), and the diabetes measure (ICC = 0.024). The range of possible overuse across clinician quartiles was 8-54% for the PSA measure, 3-35% for the urinalysis/urine culture measure, and 13-49% for the diabetes measure. The odds ratios of overuse in the highest quartile compared with the lowest for the PSA, urinalysis/urine culture, and diabetes measures were 99.3 (95% CI 43 to 228), 15.7 (10 to 24), and 6.0 (3.3 to 11), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Within the same health system, rates of potential overuse in elderly patients varied greatly across clinicians, particularly for the process measures examined.
Collapse
|
39
|
Rowe TA, Brown T, Lee JY, Linder JA, Friedberg MW, Doctor JN, Meeker D, Ciolino JD, Persell SD. Clinician-Level Variation in Three Measures Representing Overuse Based on the American Geriatrics Society Choosing Wisely Statement. J Gen Intern Med 2020. [PMID: 32128687 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-05748-8/figures/3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The extent of clinician-level variation in the overuse of testing or treatment in older adults is not well understood. OBJECTIVE To examine clinician-level variation for three new measures of potentially inappropriate use of medical services in older adults. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of overall means and clinician-level variation in performance on three new measures. SUBJECTS Adults aged 65 years and older who had office visits with outpatient primary or immediate care clinicians within a single academic medical center health system between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017. MEASURES Two electronic clinical quality measures representing potentially inappropriate use of medical services in older adults: prostate-specific antigen testing against guidelines (PSA) in men aged 76 and older; urinalysis or urine culture for non-specific reasons in women aged 65 and older; and one intermediate outcome measure: hemoglobin A1c less than 7.0 in adults aged 75 and older with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication. RESULTS Sixty-nine clinicians and 2009 patients contributed observations to the PSA measure, 144 clinicians and 5933 patients contributed to the urinalysis/urine culture measure, and 42 clinicians and 665 patients contributed to the diabetes measure. Meaningful clinician-level performance variation was greatest for the PSA measure (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.27), followed by the urinalysis/urine culture measure (ICC = 0.18), and the diabetes measure (ICC = 0.024). The range of possible overuse across clinician quartiles was 8-54% for the PSA measure, 3-35% for the urinalysis/urine culture measure, and 13-49% for the diabetes measure. The odds ratios of overuse in the highest quartile compared with the lowest for the PSA, urinalysis/urine culture, and diabetes measures were 99.3 (95% CI 43 to 228), 15.7 (10 to 24), and 6.0 (3.3 to 11), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Within the same health system, rates of potential overuse in elderly patients varied greatly across clinicians, particularly for the process measures examined.
Collapse
|
40
|
Darnall BD, Juurlink D, Kerns RD, Mackey S, Van Dorsten B, Humphreys K, Gonzalez-Sotomayor JA, Furlan A, Gordon AJ, Gordon DB, Hoffman DE, Katz J, Kertesz SG, Satel S, Lawhern RA, Nicholson KM, Polomano RC, Williamson OD, McAnally H, Kao MC, Schug S, Twillman R, Lewis TA, Stieg RL, Lorig K, Mallick-Searle T, West RW, Gray S, Ariens SR, Sharpe Potter J, Cowan P, Kollas CD, Laird D, Ingle B, Julian Grove J, Wilson M, Lockman K, Hodson F, Palackdharry CS, Fillingim RB, Fudin J, Barnhouse J, Manhapra A, Henson SR, Singer B, Ljosenvoor M, Griffith M, Doctor JN, Hardin K, London C, Mankowski J, Anderson A, Ellsworth L, Davis Budzinski L, Brandt B, Hartley G, Nickels Heck D, Zobrosky MJ, Cheek C, Wilson M, Laux CE, Datz G, Dunaway J, Schonfeld E, Cady M, LeDantec-Boswell T, Craigie M, Sturgeon J, Flood P, Giummarra M, Whelan J, Thorn BE, Martin RL, Schatman ME, Gregory MD, Kirz J, Robinson P, Marx JG, Stewart JR, Keck PS, Hadland SE, Murphy JL, Lumley MA, Brown KS, Leong MS, Fillman M, Broatch JW, Perez A, Watford K, Kruska K, Sophia You D, Ogbeide S, Kukucka A, Lawson S, Ray JB, Wade Martin T, Lakehomer JB, Burke A, Cohen RI, Grinspoon P, Rubenstein MS, Sutherland S, Walters K, Lovejoy T. International Stakeholder Community of Pain Experts and Leaders Call for an Urgent Action on Forced Opioid Tapering. PAIN MEDICINE 2019; 20:429-433. [PMID: 30496540 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
|
41
|
Meeker D, Goldberg J, Kim KK, Peneva D, Campos HDO, Maclean R, Selby V, Doctor JN. Patient Commitment to Health (PACT-Health) in the Heart Failure Population: A Focus Group Study of an Active Communication Framework for Patient-Centered Health Behavior Change. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e12483. [PMID: 31389339 PMCID: PMC6701162 DOI: 10.2196/12483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Over 6 million Americans have heart failure, and 1 in 8 deaths included heart failure as a contributing cause in 2016. Lifestyle changes and adherence to diet and exercise regimens are important in limiting disease progression. Health coaching and public commitment are two interactive communication strategies that may improve self-management of heart failure. Objective This study aimed to conduct patient focus groups to gain insight into how best to implement health coaching and public commitment strategies within the heart failure population. Methods Focus groups were conducted in two locations. We studied 2 patients in Oakland, California, and 5 patients in Los Angeles, California. Patients were referred by local cardiologists and had to have a diagnosis of chronic heart failure. We used a semistructured interview tool to explore several patient-centered themes including medication adherence, exercise habits, dietary habits, goals, accountability, and rewards. We coded focus group data using the a priori coding criteria for these domains. Results Medication adherence barriers included regimen complexity, forgetfulness, and difficulty coping with side effects. Participants reported that they receive little instruction from care providers on appropriate exercise and dietary habits. They also reported personal and social obstacles to achieving these objectives. Participants were in favor of structured goal setting, use of online social networks, and financial rewards as a means of promoting health lifestyles. Peers were viewed as better motivating agents than family members. Conclusions An active communication framework involving dissemination of diet- and exercise-related health information, structured goal setting, peer accountability, and financial rewards appears promising in the management of heart failure.
Collapse
|
42
|
Yadav K, Meeker D, Mistry RD, Doctor JN, Fleming‐Dutra KE, Fleischman RJ, Gaona SD, Stahmer A, May L. A Multifaceted Intervention Improves Prescribing for Acute Respiratory Infection for Adults and Children in Emergency Department and Urgent Care Settings. Acad Emerg Med 2019; 26:719-731. [PMID: 31215721 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotics are commonly prescribed during emergency department (ED) and urgent care center (UCC) visits for viral acute respiratory infection (ARI). We evaluate the comparative effectiveness of an antibiotic stewardship intervention adapted for acute care ambulatory settings (adapted intervention) to a stewardship intervention that additionally incorporates behavioral nudges (enhanced intervention) in reducing inappropriate prescriptions. METHODS This study was a pragmatic, cluster-randomized clinical trial conducted in three academic health systems comprising five adult and pediatric EDs and four UCCs. Randomization of the nine sites was stratified by health system; all providers at each site received either the adapted or the enhanced intervention. The main outcome was the proportion of antibiotic-inappropriate ARI diagnosis visits that received an outpatient antibiotic prescription by individual providers. We estimated a hierarchical mixed-effects logistic regression model comparing visits during the influenza season for 2016 to 2017 (baseline) and 2017 to 2018 (intervention). RESULTS There were 44,820 ARI visits among 292 providers across all nine cluster sites. Antibiotic prescribing for ARI visits dropped from 6.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.5% to 7.9%) to 2.4% (95% CI = 1.3% to 3.4%) during the study period. We found a significant reduction in inappropriate prescribing after adjusting for health-system and provider-level effects from 2.2% (95% CI = 1.0% to 3.4%) to 1.5% (95% CI = 0.7% to 2.3%) with an odds ratio of 0.67 (95% CI = 0.54 to 0.82). Difference-in-differences between the two interventions was not significantly different. CONCLUSION Implementation of antibiotic stewardship for ARI is feasible and effective in the ED and UCC settings. More intensive behavioral nudging methods were not more effective in high-performance settings.
Collapse
|
43
|
Gong CL, Zangwill KM, Hay JW, Meeker D, Doctor JN. Behavioral Economics Interventions to Improve Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Respiratory Infections: a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. J Gen Intern Med 2019; 34:846-854. [PMID: 29740788 PMCID: PMC6544688 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-018-4467-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavioral economics interventions have been shown to effectively reduce the rates of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory infections (ARIs). OBJECTIVE To determine the cost-effectiveness of three behavioral economic interventions designed to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for ARIs. DESIGN Thirty-year Markov model from the US societal perspective with inputs derived from the literature and CDC surveillance data. SUBJECTS Forty-five-year-old adults with signs and symptoms of ARI presenting to a healthcare provider. INTERVENTIONS (1) Provider education on guidelines for the appropriate treatment of ARIs; (2) Suggested Alternatives, which utilizes computerized clinical decision support to suggest non-antibiotic treatment choices in lieu of antibiotics; (3) Accountable Justification, which mandates free-text justification into the patient's electronic health record when antibiotics are prescribed; and (4) Peer Comparison, which sends a periodic email to prescribers about his/her rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing relative to clinician colleagues. MAIN MEASURES Discounted costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. KEY RESULTS Each intervention has lower costs but higher QALYs compared to provider education. Total costs for each intervention were $178.21, $173.22, $172.82, and $172.52, and total QALYs were 14.68, 14.73, 14.74, and 14.74 for the control, Suggested Alternatives, Accountable Justification, and Peer Comparison groups, respectively. Results were most sensitive to the quality-of-life of the uninfected state, and the likelihood and costs for antibiotic-associated adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Behavioral economics interventions can be cost-effective strategies for reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions by reducing healthcare resource utilization.
Collapse
|
44
|
Doctor JN, Nguyen A, Lev R, Lucas J, Knight T, Zhao H, Menchine M. Opioid prescribing decreases after learning of a patient's fatal overdose. Science 2018; 361:588-590. [PMID: 30093595 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat4595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Most opioid prescription deaths occur among people with common conditions for which prescribing risks outweigh benefits. General psychological insights offer an explanation: People may judge risk to be low without available personal experiences, may be less careful than expected when not observed, and may falter without an injunction from authority. To test these hypotheses, we conducted a randomized trial of 861 clinicians prescribing to 170 persons who subsequently suffered fatal overdoses. Clinicians in the intervention group received notification of their patients' deaths and a safe prescribing injunction from their county's medical examiner, whereas physicians in the control group did not. Milligram morphine equivalents in prescriptions filled by patients of letter recipients versus controls decreased by 9.7% (95% confidence interval: 6.2 to 13.2%; P < 0.001) over 3 months after intervention. We also observed both fewer opioid initiates and fewer high-dose opioid prescriptions by letter recipients.
Collapse
|
45
|
Chen F, Jiang X, Wang S, Schilling LM, Meeker D, Ong T, Matheny ME, Doctor JN, Ohno-Machado L, Vaidya J. Perfectly Secure and Efficient Two-Party Electronic-Health-Record Linkage. IEEE INTERNET COMPUTING 2018; 22:32-41. [PMID: 29867290 PMCID: PMC5983039 DOI: 10.1109/mic.2018.112102542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Patient health data are often found spread across various sources. However, precision medicine and personalized care requires access to the complete medical records. The first step towards this is to enable the linkage of health records spread across different sites. Existing record linkage solutions assume that data is centralized with no privacy/security concerns restricting sharing. However, that is often untrue. Therefore, we design and implement a portable method for privacy-preserving record linkage based on garbled circuits to accurately and securely match records. We also develop a novel approximate matching mechanism that significantly improves efficiency.
Collapse
|
46
|
Linder JA, Meeker D, Fox CR, Friedberg MW, Persell SD, Goldstein NJ, Doctor JN. Effects of Behavioral Interventions on Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing in Primary Care 12 Months After Stopping Interventions. JAMA 2017; 318:1391-1392. [PMID: 29049577 PMCID: PMC5818848 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.11152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
This study examines assesses inappropriate antibiotic prescribing 12 months after stopping a randomized clinical trial of a behavioral intervention intended to reduce the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infections.
Collapse
|
47
|
Kalet AM, Doctor JN, Gennari JH, Phillips MH. Developing Bayesian networks from a dependency‐layered ontology: A proof‐of‐concept in radiation oncology. Med Phys 2017; 44:4350-4359. [DOI: 10.1002/mp.12340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
|
48
|
Gong CL, Hay JW, Meeker D, Doctor JN. Prescriber preferences for behavioural economics interventions to improve treatment of acute respiratory infections: a discrete choice experiment. BMJ Open 2016; 6:e012739. [PMID: 27660322 PMCID: PMC5051402 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elicit prescribers' preferences for behavioural economics interventions designed to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, and compare these to actual behaviour. DESIGN Discrete choice experiment (DCE). SETTING 47 primary care centres in Boston and Los Angeles. PARTICIPANTS 234 primary care providers, with an average 20 years of practice. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Results of a behavioural economic intervention trial were compared to prescribers' stated preferences for the same interventions relative to monetary and time rewards for improved prescribing outcomes. In the randomised controlled trial (RCT) component, the 3 computerised prescription order entry-triggered interventions studied included: Suggested Alternatives (SA), an alert that populated non-antibiotic treatment options if an inappropriate antibiotic was prescribed; Accountable Justifications (JA), which prompted the prescriber to enter a justification for an inappropriately prescribed antibiotic that would then be documented in the patient's chart; and Peer Comparison (PC), an email periodically sent to each prescriber comparing his/her antibiotic prescribing rate with those who had the lowest rates of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. A DCE study component was administered to determine whether prescribers felt SA, JA, PC, pay-for-performance or additional clinic time would most effectively reduce their inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) was calculated for each intervention. RESULTS In the RCT, PC and JA were found to be the most effective interventions to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, whereas SA was not significantly different from controls. In the DCE however, regardless of treatment intervention received during the RCT, prescribers overwhelmingly preferred SA, followed by PC, then JA. WTP estimates indicated that each intervention would be significantly cheaper to implement than pay-for-performance incentives of $200/month. CONCLUSIONS Prescribing behaviour and stated preferences are not concordant, suggesting that relying on stated preferences alone to inform intervention design may eliminate effective interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT01454947; Results.
Collapse
|
49
|
Persell SD, Doctor JN, Friedberg MW, Meeker D, Friesema E, Cooper A, Haryani A, Gregory DL, Fox CR, Goldstein NJ, Linder JA. Behavioral interventions to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing: a randomized pilot trial. BMC Infect Dis 2016; 16:373. [PMID: 27495917 PMCID: PMC4975897 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1715-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clinicians frequently prescribe antibiotics inappropriately for acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Our objective was to test information technology-enabled behavioral interventions to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for ARIs in a randomized controlled pilot test trial. Methods Primary care clinicians were randomized in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment with 3 interventions: 1) Accountable Justifications; 2) Suggested Alternatives; and 3) Peer Comparison. Beforehand, participants completed an educational module. Measures included: rates of antibiotic prescribing for: non-antibiotic-appropriate ARI diagnoses, acute sinusitis/pharyngitis, all other diagnoses/symptoms of respiratory infection, and all three ARI categories combined. Results We examined 3,276 visits in the pre-intervention year and 3,099 in the intervention year. The antibiotic prescribing rate fell for non-antibiotic-appropriate ARIs (24.7 % in the pre-intervention year to 5.2 % in the intervention year); sinusitis/pharyngitis (50.3 to 44.7 %); all other diagnoses/symptoms of respiratory infection (40.2 to 25.3 %); and all categories combined (38.7 to 24.2 %; all p < 0.001). There were no significant relationships between any intervention and antibiotic prescribing for non-antibiotic-appropriate ARI diagnoses or sinusitis/pharyngitis. Suggested Alternatives was associated with reduced antibiotic prescribing for other diagnoses or symptoms of respiratory infection (odds ratio [OR], 0.62; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.44–0.89) and for all ARI categories combined (OR, 0.72; 95 % CI, 0.54–0.96). Peer Comparison was associated with reduced prescribing for all ARI categories combined (OR, 0.73; 95 % CI, 0.53–0.995). Conclusions We observed large reductions in antibiotic prescribing regardless of whether or not study participants received an intervention, suggesting an overriding Hawthorne effect or possibly clinician-to-clinician contamination. Low baseline inappropriate prescribing may have led to floor effects. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01454960. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-016-1715-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
50
|
Huesch MD, Galstyan A, Ong MK, Doctor JN. Using Social Media, Online Social Networks, and Internet Search as Platforms for Public Health Interventions: A Pilot Study. Health Serv Res 2016; 51 Suppl 2:1273-90. [PMID: 27161093 PMCID: PMC4874940 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To pilot public health interventions at women potentially interested in maternity care via campaigns on social media (Twitter), social networks (Facebook), and online search engines (Google Search). DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Primary data from Twitter, Facebook, and Google Search on users of these platforms in Los Angeles between March and July 2014. STUDY DESIGN Observational study measuring the responses of targeted users of Twitter, Facebook, and Google Search exposed to our sponsored messages soliciting them to start an engagement process by clicking through to a study website containing information on maternity care quality information for the Los Angeles market. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Campaigns reached a little more than 140,000 consumers each day across the three platforms, with a little more than 400 engagements each day. Facebook and Google search had broader reach, better engagement rates, and lower costs than Twitter. Costs to reach 1,000 targeted users were approximately in the same range as less well-targeted radio and TV advertisements, while initial engagements-a user clicking through an advertisement-cost less than $1 each. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that commercially available online advertising platforms in wide use by other industries could play a role in targeted public health interventions.
Collapse
|