A randomized trial to assess the impact of direct reporting of DXA scan results to patients on quality of osteoporosis care.
Consecutive patients identified as having osteoporosis on screening dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were randomized to: (1) a patient activation intervention consisting of mailing patients their DXA scan results supplemented by a call from a nurse educator or (2) usual care. Three months after the DXA scan, patients were contacted to assess: (1) use of antiresorptive therapy, (2) osteoporosis specific knowledge, and (3) satisfaction with their osteoporosis-related care. A total of 1,035 consecutive patients were screened to identify 422 eligible patients. Of these, 56 patients met inclusion criteria and were subsequently randomized. At follow-up, use of antiresorptive agents was numerically more common in the intervention arm (62%) than the control arm (54%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.58). Patients in the intervention group were more likely to report being notified of their DXA results in a timely fashion (p=0.03), but osteoporosis-specific knowledge was similar.
Cram
Peter
P
Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA. peter-cram@uiowa.edu
Schlechte
Janet
J
Christensen
Alan
A
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011177:Postal Service; D013689:Telephone
D004164:Diphosphonates