title: Using technology to create a medication safety net for cardiac surgery patients: a nurse-led randomized control trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Services, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, Ontario. hsherrard@ottawaheart.ca
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sherrard
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Struthers
authors.forename: Sharon Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mesana
mesh_terms: 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