| Intervention to reduce C-reactive protein determination requests for acute infections at an emergency department. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 22307925 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
IntroductionC-reactive protein (CRP) levels rise during inflammatory processes and have been ordered for rheumatic disease follow-up since the 1950s. The number of tests ordered in the emergency setting has increased, but without evident improvement in medical care quality.ObjectiveTo determine the pattern of CRP determinations in the emergency department (ED) of a university hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and to evaluate the effect of an intervention with staff and students about the best use of the test in the ED.MethodsData regarding CRP testing requests, related diagnoses and the number of monthly consultations in the hospital ED were analysed before and after the intervention. Because of an increase in CRP measurement requests from 2007 to 2009, the author started discussing the role of CRP determinations in the medical decision-making process in early 2010. Staff and faculty members openly discussed the pattern of requests in the hospital and related current medical literature. During 2010, the medical staff worked as multipliers to change the behaviour of new students and residents. The results of the first 4 months after the intervention were presented at another general meeting in July 2010.ResultsFrom 2007 to 2009, there were 11 786 CRP measurement requests with a clear exponential trend. After the intervention, during the calendar year 2010, there was a 48% reduction in adjusted annual CRP requests. Pneumonia, fever and urinary tract infections were the most common reasons for CRP requests.DiscussionInexpensive, well-directed, interactive educational interventions may affect professional behaviour and curb rates of laboratory tests. |
| | |
Authors:
|
I S Santos; I M Benseñor; J B A Machado; L M G Fedeli; P A Lotufo |
Related Documents
:
|
1890485 - Should helicopter frequent flyers wear head protection? a study of helmet effectiveness. 22381915 - Information sources used by parents to learn about medications they are giving their ch... 22429195 - The inaugural digestive disorders federation meeting: a collaborative and multidiscipli... 22556455 - Medical treatment and medicinal charms mentioned in the atharvanic literature. 11291585 - Continuing medical education: the paradigm is changing. 20513825 - Heart failure. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-2-3 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Emergency medicine journal : EMJ Volume: - ISSN: 1472-0213 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2012 Feb |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2012-2-6 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 100963089 Medline TA: Emerg Med J Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
|
University of São Paulo Medical School, Internal Medicine Department, São Paulo, Brazil. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Utility of routine follow-up head CT scanning after mild traumatic brain injury: a systematic review...
Next Document: Emergency department management of undifferentiated abdominal pain with hyoscine butylbromide and pa...