A simple educational programme substantially reduces unnecessary use of coagulation screening testing in an acute...

Area of Science:

• Medical Diagnostics
• Clinical Pathology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Coagulation screening tests (CST) are often ordered unnecessarily in acute medical settings.
• This overuse can lead to increased healthcare costs and potential patient harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a simple educational program in reducing unnecessary CST orders.
• To improve the appropriateness of CST utilization in an acute medical department.

Main Methods:

• A pre-intervention audit of CST orders was conducted (n=141).
• An educational program (email, poster, presentation) was delivered to clinicians.
• A post-intervention audit was performed three weeks later (n=79).

Main Results:

• The proportion of patients with CST orders significantly decreased post-intervention (32% vs. 22%, p=0.0014).
• The proportion of CSTs with a valid indication significantly increased (49% vs. 87%, p=0.0001).

Conclusions:

• A targeted educational intervention can substantially reduce unnecessary CST use in acute medical departments.
• This approach offers significant potential for efficiency savings and improved diagnostic practices.