Partnership for Ongoing Impact Assessment of Academic Detailing

The Canadian Academic Detailing collaboration (CADC) includes academic detailing (AD) programs that routinely reach over 1,000 physicians in six provinces. They deliver evidence-based, independent information on optimal prescribing practices to physicians through one-on-one or small group visits. As the health system continues to face drug safety controversies and escalating costs of chronic disease, AD holds promise for providing physicians timely access to information and tools for better prescribing and case management. While there is evidence of AD effectiveness in special research projects, rigorous evidence is lacking of real-world impacts of ongoing AD programs.

The Canadian Academic Detailing collaboration (CADC) includes academic detailing (AD) programs that routinely reach over 1,000 physicians in six provinces. They deliver evidence-based, independent information on optimal prescribing practices to physicians through one-on-one or small group visits. As the health system continues to face drug safety controversies and escalating costs of chronic disease, AD holds promise for providing physicians timely access to information and tools for better prescribing and case management. While there is evidence of AD effectiveness in special research projects, rigorous evidence is lacking of real-world impacts of ongoing AD programs.

The objectives of this is study is to conduct low-cost randomized designed-delay trials of academic detailing (AD) using central administrative databases on prescription drug use and to develop methodology for ongoing impact evaluation of innovations such as patient lists, chart inserts and medication review in chronic disease management.

Government spending on prescription drugs in Canada is growing at $1B per year without commensurate improvements in outcomes of patients with chronic diseases. Rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of AD, patient lists and medication review will inform decision-makers of the potential of these strategies to strengthen chronic disease management.