American heart journal
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American heart journal · Jun 2003
Clinical TrialFeedback intervention to reduce routine electrocardiogram use in primary care.
Although physicians frequently order non-essential diagnostic tests, including screening tests such as electrocardiograms (ECGs), effective strategies for achieving evidence-based test-ordering are not proven. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a feedback intervention designed to reduce the rate of screening ECG use and its variation. ⋯ Feedback to primary care providers successfully reduced ECG use and its variation. This approach may be applicable to other physician behaviors that remain contrary to evidence, but are not questioned because peer comparisons are unavailable.
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American heart journal · Jun 2003
Prediction of Recurrent Events by D-Dimer and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Normal Cardiac Troponin I (PREDICT) Study.
The independent predictive value of d-dimer and inflammatory markers for the risk of recurrent adverse events in patients with acute chest pain but normal levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) remains unclear. ⋯ Normal cTnI levels after acute chest pain does not confer absence of future risk. Concurrent assessment of d-dimer and inflammatory markers may improve risk stratification.