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Changing practice patterns in the management of heart attack

Emeritis Professor Richard Heller (University of Manachester), Dr Lynette Lim (The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University), Associate Professor Catherine D'Este

The aim of this study was to measure variation in the management of unstable angina across hospitals in New South Wales, and to implement and evaluate an intervention to improve management of patients admitted to hospital with unstable angina. An overview of the project methodology follows:

Baseline data for the study were obtained from the NSW Acute Cardiac Care Project that involved a medical record review.
Hospitals throughout NSW were randomly allocated to receive only best practice Guidelines (prepared by the National Heart Foundation) or to receive data on local practice patterns in conjunction with the Guidelines.
A follow-up review of medical records to asses any change in practice was undertaken.

The study has now been completed and results published this year in two journal articles.