Using technology to create a medication safety net for cardiac surgery patients: a nurse-led randomized control trial.
OBJECTIVE
Interactive voice response (IVR) technology was used to increase medication compliance and reduce adverse events (hospitalization and emergency visits) in post-cardiac surgery patients.


METHODS
Patients randomized to intervention received 11 automated IVR calls in the six months after discharge. A total of 331 patients (164 IVR, 167 usual care) participated.


RESULTS
Findings showed significant differences in the IVR group for the primary composite outcome of compliance and adverse events (relative risk (RR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60 [0.37, 0.96), p = 0.041) and the secondary outcome of medication compliance (RR: 0.34 (0.20, 0.56), p < 0.0001). There was no significant impact on emergency room visits (RR: 1.04 (0.63, 1.73J) and hospitalization (RR: 0.77 [0.41, 1.45]). Most patients (93%) preferred IVR follow-up to no follow-up.
Sherrard
Heather
H
Clinical Services, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, Ontario. hsherrard@ottawaheart.ca
Struthers
Christine
C
Kearns
Sharon Ann
SA
Wells
George
G
Chen
Li
L
Mesana
Thierry
T
D000359:Aftercare; D001331:Automation; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008509:Medication Systems; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012308:Risk Management; D055817:Telenursing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013689:Telephone