Educating rheumatologists ­ no effect on practice

[Guest guest]

Sep 23, 2002

Educating rheumatologists ­ no effect on practice

San , TX Having previously found suboptimal treatment of

glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis among rheumatology patients, Dr

and colleagues (Brigham & Women's Hospital Boston) set out to

improve the situation. Unfortunately, the multifaceted interactive education

initiative they designed and tested on a group of rheumatologists had little

effect on their management of these patients.

presented the findings at a poster session during the American

Society of Bone and Mineral Research in San . The education package

began with a conference, with lectures covering the pathophysiology,

epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced

osteoporosis. A discussion period focused on how the management of

rheumatology patients taking steroids could be improved. Next, there was an

audit, where each rheumatologist filled out a confidential report about such

patients, and finally there was a reminder a concise mailing summarizing

the pharmacotherapy of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

et al tested the package in a trial involving 22 rheumatologists

caring for 375 patients on glucocorticoids. Only half underwent the

education, and the performance of both groups was compared at 6 months

before and after the initiative. The researchers found that the education

had no effect there was no increase either in requests for bone mineral

density scans or in the prescribing of medications for osteoporosis.

Before the intervention, the rheumatologists who underwent education

requested dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans for 9% of patients

and prescribed osteoporosis medication (not including HRT) to 26% of

patients. After the intervention these rates were 8% and 27%, respectively.

For the control group of rheumatologists who didn't undergo the education

initiative, these rates were 6% DXA and 24% drugs before and 9% DXA and 29%

drugs after. None of the differences either between the 2 groups or between

the before and after performances were significant, and all of these rates

were low, noted.

" The rheumatologists who participated in the program said they found it very

informative and they were surprised themselves that it didn't improve their

performance, " commented to rheumawire. Brainstorming sessions after

the trial came up with suggestions of other initiatives that could improve

the management of these patients, focusing both on practice nurses and the

patients themselves. says he is keen to test these in similar

trials, having learned from this study: " Do not assume that a well-designed

intervention works until it has been carefully tested! "

[Guest guest]

This is PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ ] Educating rheumatologists ­ no effect on practice

Sep 23, 2002

Educating rheumatologists ­ no effect on practice

San , TX Having previously found suboptimal treatment of

glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis among rheumatology patients, Dr

and colleagues (Brigham & Women's Hospital Boston) set out to

improve the situation. Unfortunately, the multifaceted interactive

education

initiative they designed and tested on a group of rheumatologists had

little

effect on their management of these patients.

presented the findings at a poster session during the American

Society of Bone and Mineral Research in San . The education

package

began with a conference, with lectures covering the pathophysiology,

epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced

osteoporosis. A discussion period focused on how the management of

rheumatology patients taking steroids could be improved. Next, there was

an

audit, where each rheumatologist filled out a confidential report about

such

patients, and finally there was a reminder a concise mailing

summarizing

the pharmacotherapy of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

et al tested the package in a trial involving 22 rheumatologists

caring for 375 patients on glucocorticoids. Only half underwent the

education, and the performance of both groups was compared at 6 months

before and after the initiative. The researchers found that the

education

had no effect there was no increase either in requests for bone mineral

density scans or in the prescribing of medications for osteoporosis.

Before the intervention, the rheumatologists who underwent education

requested dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans for 9% of

patients

and prescribed osteoporosis medication (not including HRT) to 26% of

patients. After the intervention these rates were 8% and 27%,

respectively.

For the control group of rheumatologists who didn't undergo the

education

initiative, these rates were 6% DXA and 24% drugs before and 9% DXA and

29%

drugs after. None of the differences either between the 2 groups or

between

the before and after performances were significant, and all of these

rates

were low, noted.

" The rheumatologists who participated in the program said they found it

very

informative and they were surprised themselves that it didn't improve

their

performance, " commented to rheumawire. Brainstorming sessions

after

the trial came up with suggestions of other initiatives that could

improve

the management of these patients, focusing both on practice nurses and

the

patients themselves. says he is keen to test these in similar

trials, having learned from this study: " Do not assume that a

well-designed

intervention works until it has been carefully tested! "

[Guest guest]

Yes it is. It¹s also more evidence that we have to educate ourselves

so that

we can protect ourselves.

a

> This is PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>

>

>

>

> [ ] Educating rheumatologists ­ no effect on practice

>

>

> Sep 23, 2002

>

> Educating rheumatologists ­ no effect on practice

>

> San , TX Having previously found suboptimal treatment of

> glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis among rheumatology patients, Dr

>

> and colleagues (Brigham & Women's Hospital Boston) set out to

> improve the situation. Unfortunately, the multifaceted interactive

> education

> initiative they designed and tested on a group of rheumatologists had

> little

> effect on their management of these patients.

>

> presented the findings at a poster session during the American

> Society of Bone and Mineral Research in San . The education

> package

> began with a conference, with lectures covering the pathophysiology,

> epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced

> osteoporosis. A discussion period focused on how the management of

> rheumatology patients taking steroids could be improved. Next, there was

> an

> audit, where each rheumatologist filled out a confidential report about

> such

> patients, and finally there was a reminder a concise mailing

> summarizing

> the pharmacotherapy of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

>

> et al tested the package in a trial involving 22 rheumatologists

> caring for 375 patients on glucocorticoids. Only half underwent the

> education, and the performance of both groups was compared at 6 months

> before and after the initiative. The researchers found that the

> education

> had no effect there was no increase either in requests for bone mineral

> density scans or in the prescribing of medications for osteoporosis.

>

> Before the intervention, the rheumatologists who underwent education

> requested dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans for 9% of

> patients

> and prescribed osteoporosis medication (not including HRT) to 26% of

> patients. After the intervention these rates were 8% and 27%,

> respectively.

>

> For the control group of rheumatologists who didn't undergo the

> education

> initiative, these rates were 6% DXA and 24% drugs before and 9% DXA and

> 29%

> drugs after. None of the differences either between the 2 groups or

> between

> the before and after performances were significant, and all of these

> rates

> were low, noted.

>

> " The rheumatologists who participated in the program said they found it

> very

> informative and they were surprised themselves that it didn't improve

> their

> performance, " commented to rheumawire. Brainstorming sessions

> after

> the trial came up with suggestions of other initiatives that could

> improve

> the management of these patients, focusing both on practice nurses and

> the

> patients themselves. says he is keen to test these in similar

> trials, having learned from this study: " Do not assume that a

> well-designed

> intervention works until it has been carefully tested! "

>

>

>