Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
Making Informed CHOICES: The Launch of a "Big Data" Pragmatic Trial to Improve Cholesterol Management and Prevent
Laura E Ferreira-Legere1, Anna Chu2, Mohammed Rashid3
1A research project manager with the CHOICES trial and the Cardiovascular Research Program at ICES in Toronto.
Abstract:
Cholesterol-lowering statin medications are a safe and effective therapy to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Yet physician prescribing patterns and patient adherence remain suboptimal in Canada and the United States, often due to pervasive misconceptions. The Community Heart Outcomes Improvement and Cholesterol Education Study (CHOICES) is a pragmatic, registry-based, cluster randomized controlled trial that aims to improve cholesterol management through appropriate statin use in adults and to ultimately reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk communities across Ontario. The trial uses an innovative, multicomponent intervention and implementation approach that includes audit and feedback reports for family physicians and educational materials and tools for patients.
Insights
Community Heart Outcomes Improvement and Cholesterol Education Study (CHOICES) aims to improve statin use for better cholesterol management. This study targets high-risk communities to reduce cardiovascular events through physician feedback and patient education.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Statin medications effectively lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular event risk.
- Suboptimal physician prescribing and patient adherence to statins persist in Canada and the US, often due to misconceptions.
- High-risk communities require improved cholesterol management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance cholesterol management by optimizing statin use in adults.
- To reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in high-risk populations.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention in a pragmatic trial setting.
Main Methods:
- A pragmatic, registry-based, cluster randomized controlled trial (Community Heart Outcomes Improvement and Cholesterol Education Study - CHOICES).
- Implementation of a multicomponent intervention including audit and feedback for family physicians.
- Provision of educational materials and tools for patients to improve adherence and understanding.
Main Results:
- (Study ongoing, results not yet available)
Conclusions:
- (Study ongoing, conclusions not yet available)
Related Concept Videos
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
Atherosclerosis III: Management
Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Clinical Trials: Overview
Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...

