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Devis L, Catry E, Honore PM, Mansour A, Lippi G, Mullier F, Closset M. Interventions to improve appropriateness of laboratory testing in the intensive care unit: a narrative review. Ann Intensive Care 2024; 14:9. [PMID: 38224401 PMCID: PMC10789714 DOI: 10.1186/s13613-024-01244-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare expenses are increasing, as is the utilization of laboratory resources. Despite this, between 20% and 40% of requested tests are deemed inappropriate. Improper use of laboratory resources leads to unwanted consequences such as hospital-acquired anemia, infections, increased costs, staff workload and patient stress and discomfort. The most unfavorable consequences result from unnecessary follow-up tests and treatments (overuse) and missed or delayed diagnoses (underuse). In this context, several interventions have been carried out to improve the appropriateness of laboratory testing. To date, there have been few published assessments of interventions specific to the intensive care unit. We reviewed the literature for interventions implemented in the ICU to improve the appropriateness of laboratory testing. We searched literature from 2008 to 2023 in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases between April and June 2023. Five intervention categories were identified: education and guidance (E&G), audit and feedback, gatekeeping, computerized physician order entry (including reshaping of ordering panels), and multifaceted interventions (MFI). We included a sixth category exploring the potential role of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)-based assisting tools in such interventions. E&G-based interventions and MFI are the most frequently used approaches. MFI is the most effective type of intervention, and shows the strongest persistence of effect over time. AI/ML-based tools may offer valuable assistance to the improvement of appropriate laboratory testing in the near future. Patient safety outcomes are not impaired by interventions to reduce inappropriate testing. The literature focuses mainly on reducing overuse of laboratory tests, with only one intervention mentioning underuse. We highlight an overall poor quality of methodological design and reporting and argue for standardization of intervention methods. Collaboration between clinicians and laboratory staff is key to improve appropriate laboratory utilization. This article offers practical guidance for optimizing the effectiveness of an intervention protocol designed to limit inappropriate use of laboratory resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Devis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biochemistry, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Emilie Catry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biochemistry, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Pôle Mont Godinne (MONT), UCLouvain, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Patrick M Honore
- Department of Intensive Care, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Mansour
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Pontchaillou University Hospital of Rennes, Rennes, France
- IRSET-INSERM-1085, Univ Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry and School of Medicine, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - François Mullier
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium
- Namur Thrombosis and Hemostasis Center (NTHC), Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), Namur, Belgium
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Pôle Mont Godinne (MONT), UCLouvain, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Mélanie Closset
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biochemistry, CHU UCL Namur, Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Pôle Mont Godinne (MONT), UCLouvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
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Siegal DM, Belley-Côté EP, Lee SF, Hill S, D’Aragon F, Zarychanski R, Rochwerg B, Chassé M, Binnie A, Honarmand K, Lauzier F, Ball I, Al-Hazzani W, Archambault P, Duan E, Khwaja K, Lellouche F, Lysecki P, Marquis F, Naud JF, Shahin J, Shea J, Tsang JL, Wang HT, Crowther M, Arnold DM, Di Sante E, Marfo G, Kovalova T, Fonguh S, Vincent J, Connolly SJ. Small-Volume Blood Collection Tubes to Reduce Transfusions in Intensive Care: The STRATUS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2023; 330:1872-1881. [PMID: 37824152 PMCID: PMC10570918 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.20820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Importance Blood collection for laboratory testing in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is a modifiable contributor to anemia and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Most blood withdrawn is not required for analysis and is discarded. Objective To determine whether transitioning from standard-volume to small-volume vacuum tubes for blood collection in ICUs reduces RBC transfusion without compromising laboratory testing procedures. Design, Setting, and Participants Stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial in 25 adult medical-surgical ICUs in Canada (February 5, 2019 to January 21, 2021). Interventions ICUs were randomized to transition from standard-volume (n = 10 940) to small-volume tubes (n = 10 261) for laboratory testing. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was RBC transfusion (units per patient per ICU stay). Secondary outcomes were patients receiving at least 1 RBC transfusion, hemoglobin decrease during ICU stay (adjusted for RBC transfusion), specimens with insufficient volume for testing, length of stay in the ICU and hospital, and mortality in the ICU and hospital. The primary analysis included patients admitted for 48 hours or more, excluding those admitted during a 5.5-month COVID-19-related trial hiatus. Results In the primary analysis of 21 201 patients (mean age, 63.5 years; 39.9% female), which excluded 6210 patients admitted during the early COVID-19 pandemic, there was no significant difference in RBC units per patient per ICU stay (relative risk [RR], 0.91 [95% CI, 0.79 to 1.05]; P = .19; absolute reduction of 7.24 RBC units/100 patients per ICU stay [95% CI, -3.28 to 19.44]). In a prespecified secondary analysis (n = 27 411 patients), RBC units per patient per ICU stay decreased after transition from standard-volume to small-volume tubes (RR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.00]; P = .04; absolute reduction of 9.84 RBC units/100 patients per ICU stay [95% CI, 0.24 to 20.76]). Median decrease in transfusion-adjusted hemoglobin was not statistically different in the primary population (mean difference, 0.10 g/dL [95% CI, -0.04 to 0.23]) and lower in the secondary population (mean difference, 0.17 g/dL [95% CI, 0.05 to 0.29]). Specimens with insufficient quantity for analysis were rare (≤0.03%) before and after transition. Conclusions and Relevance Use of small-volume blood collection tubes in the ICU may decrease RBC transfusions without affecting laboratory analysis. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03578419.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah M. Siegal
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emilie P. Belley-Côté
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shun Fu Lee
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen Hill
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frédérick D’Aragon
- Department of Anesthesiology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Ryan Zarychanski
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Bram Rochwerg
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michaël Chassé
- Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alexandra Binnie
- William Osler Health System – Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kimia Honarmand
- London Health Sciences Centre – CCTC and University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - François Lauzier
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Enfant-Jésus and Hôtel-Dieu, Department of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Ian Ball
- London Health Sciences Centre – CCTC and University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Waleed Al-Hazzani
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Archambault
- Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Department of Family Medicine and Urgent Care, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Erick Duan
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Niagara Health – St. Catharine’s General Hospital, St. Catharine’s, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kosar Khwaja
- Montreal General Hospital, Departments of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - François Lellouche
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Paul Lysecki
- Joseph Brant Hospital, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - François Marquis
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-François Naud
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec-CHAUR, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Jason Shahin
- Royal Victoria Hospital, Department of Critical Care, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jennifer Shea
- Saint John Regional Hospital, Department of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Jennifer L.Y. Tsang
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Niagara Health – St. Catharine’s General Hospital, St. Catharine’s, Ontario, Canada
| | - Han Ting Wang
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Mark Crowther
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donald M. Arnold
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emily Di Sante
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gladys Marfo
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tanya Kovalova
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvanus Fonguh
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Vincent
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stuart J. Connolly
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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