Diffusion of Use of Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Thrombosis on the Medicine Services

NCT00203970 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 10895A
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 645
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research is to gain insight into the way in which physicians adopt new practice techniques. In particular, we are interested in how medical innovations diffuse throughout social networks. We wish to examine the diffusion of Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) use for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) throughout the social network of general internal medicine interns, residents, and attendings at the University of Chicago Hospital. In numerous clinical trials, LMWH has been demonstrated to be as effective as unfractionated heparin as a bridge to long-term anticoagulation therapy with Coumadin, with the added benefit of early discharge from the hospital with easy dosing, no need for monitoring, and home therapy. A DVT critical pathway was established at the U of C in 1998, and LMWH was used off-label for that purpose beginning in 1997. However, it is unclear how quickly the use of LMWH was adopted by the physicians on the general medicine services, or whether there exists a pattern for this adoption.

Conditions

Thrombosis

Keywords

Thrombosis; Low Molecular Weight Heparin

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• retrospective chart review to determine how patients with deep venous thromboses or pulmonary emboli were treated when hospitalized on the medicine services

  Using the data abstraction form, we gathered the following information: 1) patient demographics, 2) the identity of the attending, resident, and intern caring for the patient, 3) whether the patient had any absolute or relative contraindications for receiving LMWH, as delineated by the DVT critical pathway, including insurance status and 4) how the patient was treated for his/her condition.

  June 1997 to December 2000

Interventions

Observation BEHAVIORAL

Using a data abstraction form, we wish to gather the following information: 1) Patient demographics 2) identity of the attending, residents, and interns caring for the patient 3)whether the patient had any absolute or relative contraindications for receiving LMWH 4) how the patient was treated for his/her condition

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients admitted into the general medicine services with a primary or secondary diagnosis related to Venous Thromboembolism.

You may qualify if:

• Patients admitted to General Medicine Services with a primary or secondary diagnosis related to venous thromboembolism

You may not qualify if:

• Non-General Medicine Services patients

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Chicago: lead

Study Sites (1)

The University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Thrombosis

Interventions

Observation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Embolism and Thrombosis; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Methods; Investigative Techniques

Study Officials

• David Meltzer, M.D., Ph.D.

  University of Chicago

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 12, 2005
• First Posted: September 20, 2005
• Study Start: February 1, 2001
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2001
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Last Updated: April 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations

US (1)