Laboratory tests order communication system optimization: a randomised controlled trial

Effect of order communication system optimization in the prescription of unnecessary laboratory tests: a randomised controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN45427977

Enrollment

117

Registered

2014-05-01

Start date

2012-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2017-03-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Laboratory tests prescription Not Applicable

Interventions

The control group continued to use the usual version of the EHR software (SAM). The intervention group used a modified version of the software (SAM modified) installed in each server. The modification

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: All family physicians working and prescribing diagnostic and laboratory tests in the Western Oporto group of health centers (except those where the authors worked)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Family physicians working in the same health center as the researchers

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Primary outcomes were chosen to assess the impact of our intervention in the number of diagnostic and laboratory tests prescribed by physicians including four different perspectives: 1. Impact on the number of the prescriptions of diagnostic and laboratory tests that were withdrawn from the basic menu 2. Impact on the number of the prescriptions of diagnostic and laboratory tests that were added to the basic menu 3. Impact on the number of the prescriptions of diagnostic and laboratory tests that were marked with green dots (USPSTF recommendations grade A and B) 4. Impact on the number of prescriptions of diagnostic and laboratory tests that were marked with red dots (USPSTF recommendations grade D) Prospective monthly monitoring and data collection occurred until 31/01/2013. To allow a pre-post analysis in both groups, a retrospective monthly data collection of both control and intervention groups was also performed between 01/12/2011 and 31/05/2012.	—

Measure

Time frame

Primary outcomes were chosen to assess the impact of our intervention in the number of diagnostic and laboratory tests prescribed by physicians including four different perspectives: 1. Impact on the number of the prescriptions of diagnostic and laboratory tests that were withdrawn from the basic menu 2. Impact on the number of the prescriptions of diagnostic and laboratory tests that were added to the basic menu 3. Impact on the number of the prescriptions of diagnostic and laboratory tests that were marked with green dots (USPSTF recommendations grade A and B) 4. Impact on the number of prescriptions of diagnostic and laboratory tests that were marked with red dots (USPSTF recommendations grade D) Prospective monthly monitoring and data collection occurred until 31/01/2013. To allow a pre-post analysis in both groups, a retrospective monthly data collection of both control and intervention groups was also performed between 01/12/2011 and 31/05/2012.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Monthly number of family physicians prescribing 2. Monthly number of face-to-face consultations made 3. Monthly number of each diagnostic 4. Laboratory test prescribed Prospective monthly monitoring and data collection occurred until 31/01/2013. To allow a pre-post analysis in both groups, a retrospective monthly data collection of both control and intervention groups was also performed between 01/12/2011 and 31/05/2012.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Monthly number of family physicians prescribing 2. Monthly number of face-to-face consultations made 3. Monthly number of each diagnostic 4. Laboratory test prescribed Prospective monthly monitoring and data collection occurred until 31/01/2013. To allow a pre-post analysis in both groups, a retrospective monthly data collection of both control and intervention groups was also performed between 01/12/2011 and 31/05/2012.

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Countries

Portugal

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 10, 2026