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Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Study protocol

The impact of care pathways for patients with proximal femur fracture: rationale and design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Authors: Kris Vanhaecht, Walter Sermeus, Jan Peers, Cathy Lodewijckx, Svin Deneckere, Fabrizio Leigheb, Steven Boonen, An Sermon, Paulo Boto, Rita Veloso Mendes, Massimiliano Panella, EQCP study group

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Proximal femur fracture (PFF) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The European Quality of Care Pathway (EQCP) study on PFF (NCT00962910) was designed to determine how care pathways (CP) for hospital treatment of PFF affect consistency of care, adherence to evidence-based key interventions, and clinical outcome.

Methods/Design

An international cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) will be performed in Belgium, Ireland, Italy and Portugal. Based on power analyses, a sample of 44 hospital teams and 437 patients per arm will be included in the study. In the control arm, usual care will be provided. Experimental teams will implement a care pathway which will include three active components: a formative evaluation of quality and organization of the care setting, a set of evidence-based key interventions, and support of the development and implementation of the CP. Main outcome will be the six-month mortality rate.

Discussion

The EQCP study constitutes the first international cRCT on care pathways. The EQCP project was designed as both a research and a quality improvement project and will provide a real-world framework for process evaluation to improve our understanding of why and when CP can really work.

Trial registration number

NCT00962910
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
The impact of care pathways for patients with proximal femur fracture: rationale and design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial
Authors
Kris Vanhaecht
Walter Sermeus
Jan Peers
Cathy Lodewijckx
Svin Deneckere
Fabrizio Leigheb
Steven Boonen
An Sermon
Paulo Boto
Rita Veloso Mendes
Massimiliano Panella
EQCP study group
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-12-124

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