Antithrombotic prescribing in atrial fibrillation: Application of a prescribing indicator and multidisciplinary feedback to improve prescribing

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation is common in older people, and is associated with an increased risk of ischaemic stroke. Antithrombotic therapy reduces stroke-risk, but is known to be under-prescribed. Objectives: To use an evidence-based indicator to audit antithrombotic prescribing for older hospital inpatients with atrial fibrillation, and to assess whether feedback of audit results to hospital staff increases antithrombotic use. Design: Cross-sectional notes-based audits, before and after feedback. Setting: Six Aged Care and three General Medicine units at nine Australian public teaching hospitals between September 1998 and May 1999. Subjects: 1416 hospital inpatients aged 65 years and o..