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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00355381

Evaluating Patient Information Prescriptions

Research shows that patient satisfaction with medical care correlates strongly with how satisfied they are with the ease of getting information from their providers regarding their medical condition. Although the Internet is a wonderful source of information for patients, research has shown that, unmediated, it comprises a potential quagmire of information poorly matched to users needs. Providers typically do not have enough time to fulfill all of their patients' information needs. One strategy to meeting the patient's information needs is to introduce librarians trained and experienced in consumer health information services into the relationship between the patient and the provider. One recently described tactic is for providers to provide information the way they of provide treatment-through an information prescription (IRx) filled by a librarian. The librarian fills the prescription by offering information services tailored to the needs of individual patients. At Johns Hopkins, we have piloted such a tactic, and in this project, extend and evaluate it. The research hypothesis is that provision of an IRx will improve patient satisfaction, provider knowledge and attitudes regarding patient information needs, and the efficiencies of care.

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Key information

Conditions

Breast Neoplasms Behavior Breast Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Health Behavior Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Obstetric Labor Complications Obstetric Labor, Premature Patient Satisfaction Pregnancy Complications Premature Birth Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Treatment Adherence and Compliance Urogenital Diseases

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States

About this study

The goal of this research is to evaluate IRx, to provide enough data so care organizations can decide whether to implement this in their own environment.

To that end, our specific aims are:

  • To evaluate the impact of IRx on patients. We are performing a randomized clinical trial, comparing IRx with standard provision of information. The primary outcome is patient satisfaction.
  • To evaluate the impact of IRx on providers. As part of the trial, provider perceptions and behavior will be assessed.
  • To evaluate the impact of IRx on the health-care system. As part of the trial, costs entailed and resources utilized will be assessed.
  • To evaluate how IRx generalizes across service environments. The trial will be performed in two environments: adult breast cancer and neonatal intensive care.

At the heart of this proposal are the randomized clinical trials. In each, patients in both intervention and control groups will receive standard clinical care in their clinic visits. Patients randomized to the intervention group will receive information services from a specially trained librarian; patients in the control groups will receive routine, current information provision. For Aim 1, immediately after their clinic visits and four weeks later, all participants will report their satisfaction on a survey that include measures of patient-provider communication. For Aim 2, participating providers are surveyed for their perceptions of information needs being met and about patient-provider interaction. For Aim 3, costs of care and costs of providing the IRx environment will be tabulated.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Breast Cancer: any new patient seen in Johns Hopkins medical oncology for Breast Cancer
  • Neonatal Intensive care:Biological mothers (or consenting guardians) of premature infants born and admitted or transferred in to Johns Hopkins Hospital or Bayview Medical Center neonatal intensive care units.

Exclusion criteria

  • Breast Cancer: None
  • Neonatal Intensive Care: Parents with infants whose SNAP mortality >= 80%(J Pediatr. 2001 Jan;138(1):92-100)

Treatment and study plan

Information Services (IRx)

Behavioral

Information services tailored to the needs of individual patients. The information prescription (IRx)or service is defined for this study as a combination of: 1)An evidence-based web site for use by patients and their families; 2) A reference interview and assistance in locating relevant general information in response to patient information needs; 3) Documentation of the questions and the information service provided in response to these in the patient's Electronic Patient Record for review by providers as needed; and, 4) Triage of patient's/parents clinical questions to providers.

Other names: Information prescriptions or IRx

Primary outcomes

  1. Patient Satisfaction

    Time frame: 4 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. provider perceptions and behavior will be assessed;costs entailed and resources utilized will be assessed;how the intervention (information services) generalizes across service environments

    Time frame: 4 years

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluating Patient Information Prescriptions in Different Service Environments

Important dates

Study start
2004
Primary completion
2008
Study completion
2009
First posted
Jul 21, 2006
Registry last updated
Oct 23, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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