An Electronic Health Record–based Intervention to Promote Hepatitis C Virus Testing Among Adults Born Between 1945 and 1965: A Cluster-randomized Trial

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends one-time hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody testing for “Birth Cohort” adults born during 1945–1965. Objective: To examine the impact of an electronic health record (EHR)-embedded best practice alert (BPA) for HCV testing among Birth Cohort adults. Design: Cluster-randomized trial was conducted from April 29, 2013 to March 29, 2014. Subjects and Setting: Ten community and hospital-based primary care practices. Participants were attending physicians and medical residents during 25,620 study-eligible visits. Intervention: Physicians in all practices received a brief introduction to the CDC testing recommendations. At visits for eligible patients at intervention sites, physicians received a BPA through the EHR to order HCV testing or medical assistants were prompted to post a testing order for the physician. Physicians in control sites did not receive the BPA. Main Outcomes: HCV testing; the incidence of HCV antibody positive tests was a secondary outcome. Results: Testing rates were greater among Birth Cohort patients in intervention sites (20.2% vs. 1.8%, P
Source: Medical Care - Category: Health Management Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research