Unintended consequences of a quality improvement program designed to improve treatment of alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized patients.
BACKGROUND
New guidelines, accompanied by an educational campaign, introduced standardized monitoring of withdrawal severity while emphasizing prophylactic fixed-schedule benzodiazepine (BDZ) treatment of at-risk patients.


RESULTS
Preliminary analysis showed more deaths during the year after introduction of the guidelines. Investigation revealed some evidence of guideline adherence and a decrease in the number of patients requiring transfer to a higher level of care. However, an 18% increase in the median length of stay was also found, as was an increase in the total dose of benzodiazepines administered to patients with cirrhosis and severe concurrent illness, and the risk of in-hospital death persisted even after adjustment for patient mix.


RESULTS
This feedback led to guideline revision and redoubled educational efforts focused on safe benzodiazepine prescribing. Ongoing monitoring of patient outcomes showed no further deterioration and some evidence of improved quality of care.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of such quality improvement efforts should include measurement of both treatment patterns and patient outcomes.
Pletcher
Mark J
MJ
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California-San Francisco, USA. mpletcher@epi.ucsf.edu
Fernandez
Alicia
A
May
Todd A
TA
Westphal
J R
JR
Gamez
Corinna A
CA
Hersh
David F
DF
Gonzales
Ralph
R
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012495:San Francisco; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017749:Total Quality Management
D001569:Benzodiazepines