TY - JOUR T1 - A series of evidence-based drug therapy letters improved prescribing behaviour JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 91 LP - 91 DO - 10.1136/ebm.10.3.91 VL - 10 IS - 3 A2 - , Y1 - 2005/06/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/10/3/91.abstract N2 - Dormuth CR, Maclure M, Bassett K, et al. Effect of periodic letters on evidence-based drug therapy on prescribing behaviour: a randomized trial. CMAJ 2004;171:1057–61.OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text 
 
 Q Do evidence-based drug therapy letters affect the prescribing behaviour of physicians to newly treated patients? Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Design: cluster randomised controlled trial. Allocation: concealed.* Blinding: blinded {clinicians, patients, and outcome assessors}†.* Follow up period: 3 months (8 wks for letters #7 and #8). Setting: 24 local health areas (LHAs) in British Columbia, Canada. Participants: a 10% sample of prescribing physicians from the 24 LHAs: 499 physicians (mean age 46 y, 86% men, 90% general practitioners). The patient populations were (i) residents of British Columbia who were ⩾66 years of age between 1993 and 1998, lived at home or in a continuing care institution, and had been eligible for Pharmacare coverage for ⩾1 year (people who had made no claim in the preceding year for any drug among the drug classes included in the letters were “at risk” of a first prescription); and (ii) a younger patient population, which was used to … ER -