Educational Intervention for Type 2 Diabetes

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Disqualifiers: Not registered, Not general practitioner, Others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

968 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The aim of this randomized trial is to learn if educational materials and personalized prescribing Portraits change the frequency of ordering HbA1c tests by clinicians in British Columbia, Canada. The main research question: To investigate the overall utilization patterns of HbA1c testing and evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized prescribing Portrait and educational materials to reduce over-utilization of HbA1c tests in diabetes management. Participants are nurse practitioners and family physicians actively practicing in British Columbia. Participants are registered for the online prescribing Portrait program on the Therapeutics Initiative website where they can access their digital prescribing Portraits. Participants were randomized to receive educational materials on the topic of HbA1c testing either in an Early Group (Group 1 or Arm A) or in a Delayed Group (Group 2 or Arm B). Using administrative health data, the ordering of HbA1c tests by those in the Early Group will be compared with those in the Delayed Group to see if the materials influence the frequency of ordering HbA1c tests. Group 3 (Arm C) will be a control group for Groups 1 and 2 and include participants who receive no intervention.

Research Team

Colin Dormuth, ScD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for nurse practitioners and family physicians in British Columbia, Canada who are actively practicing and registered to access their digital prescribing Portraits. The study aims to see if educational materials affect how often they order HbA1c tests for diabetes management.

Inclusion Criteria

Physicians and nurse practitioners registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. or BC College of Nurses and Midwives as a nurse practitioner

For physicians: defined as a General Practitioner or FP - Emergency Medicine according to the B.C. Ministry of Health's Medical Services Plan (MSP) with a licence status of private practice, temporary licence, salaried, or post graduate

Had ≥100 patients with prescriptions filled at a community pharmacy in 2022

Exclusion Criteria

Had fewer than 100 patients with prescriptions filled at a community pharmacy in 2023

Not registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. or BC College of Nurses and Midwives as a nurse practitioner

Physicians who were not classified as a General Practitioner or Family Practice - Emergency Medicine according to the B.C. Ministry of Health's Medical Services Plan (MSP) with a licence status of private practice, temporary licence, salaried, or post graduate

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention Phase for Group 1

Group 1 clinicians receive access to prescribing Portraits and Therapeutics Letter

12 months

Online access

Intervention Phase for Group 2

Group 2 clinicians receive access to prescribing Portraits and Therapeutics Letter

12 months

Online access

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in HbA1c test ordering patterns

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Portrait + Therapeutics Letter

Trial Overview The trial is testing whether personalized prescribing Portraits plus educational materials can reduce the over-utilization of HbA1c tests. Participants are split into an Early Group getting the intervention soon, a Delayed Group getting it later, and a control group with no intervention.

Participant Groups

Group I: Arm B (Group 2) - Delayed control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This "delayed" control group will get access to the prescribing Portrait and Therapeutics Letter 12 months after Group 1 (March 31, 2026). The materials will be uploaded to the Portrait program online portal on this date, and recipients who are registrants to the Portrait program will be sent an email notifying them of the new material available.

Group II: Arm A (Group 1) - Early Portrait + Letter Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This arm gained access to the prescribing portrait and Therapeutics Letter on March 31, 2025. The materials were uploaded to the Portrait program online portal on this date, and recipients who are registrants to the Portrait program were sent an email notifying them of the new material available.

Group III: Arm C (Group 3) - Non-Portrait users Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will not have access to the Portrait and Therapeutics Letter intervention because they are not registered with the Portrait program (i.e., non Portrait users).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Ministry of Health, British Columbia

Collaborator

Trials

11

Recruited

15,600+