Table 37: Summary of Measures of Efficiency.
| Outcome | Number of Studies | Statistical Method | Effect Estimate (95% CI) | GRADEa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impact on Time | ||||
| Proportion of PCPs receiving discharge summary within 1–7 days | 1 (RCT) | Risk difference | 1.1 (−9.2 to 6.9) | High |
| Time to first measure of LDL-C, days | 1 (RCT) | Mean difference | −22.0 (−82.9 to 38.9) | Moderate |
| Time to change in statin prescription | 1 (RCT) | Mean difference | −7.1 (−12.0 to−2.2) | Moderate |
| Time spent by providers with patients | 1 (Observational) | Mean difference | 4.5 (1.83–7.17) | Very low |
| Time spent by nurses with patients | 1 (Observational) | Mean difference | 3.00 (0.67–5.33) | Very low |
| Impact on Communication | ||||
| Number of letters from GP to consultant | 1 (RCT) | NR | Not significant | Very low |
| Number of letters from consultant to GP | 1 (RCT) | NR | Significant increase | Very low |
| Number of patient contacts with GP | 1 (RCT) | NR | Not significant | Very low |
| Number of patient contacts with consultant | 1 (RCT) | NR | Not significant | Very low |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; GP, general practitioner; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; NR, not reported; PCP, primary care physician; RCT, randomized clinical trial.
a
Details of individual GRADE assessments are available in Appendix 3.