Delayed Educational Reminders in Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) (DERLA-STEMI)

Delayed Educational Reminders for Long-term Medication Adherence in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (DERLA-STEMI): Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial

ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a common presentation of heart attack constituting approximately 30% of all cases. Clinical guidelines around the world support the prolonged use of secondary preventative medications including aspirin, clopidogrel, statin, beta-blocker and angiotensin blockers with the highest recommendations. While in-hospital and discharge prescription rates are excellent, adherence to these essential life-saving medications is far less than ideal, even a few months following hospital discharge. The investigators plan to capitalize on the existing structure of the SMART-AMI project already underway in LHIN IV to undertake a randomized controlled trial evaluating a reminder sent on behalf of the interventional cardiologists, delivered by mail, at 1, 2, 5, 8, and 11-months post-discharge, reviewing the evidence for life-saving cardiac medications and urging long-term adherence to secondary preventative cardiac medications. This will be sent to the family physician and the patient, using audience-appropriate language. If the DERLA-STEMI project is accepted by physicians and patients, found to be both feasible and effective, then this simple and low-cost intervention will be studied in all patients with an abnormal coronary angiogram.

Recurrent, personalized, educational reminders sent via post on behalf of the interventional cardiologist to the patient and their family physician urging long-term adherence to secondary prevention medications post-STEMI. A copy of the letter will be provided to the patient to take to their pharmacist.

Personalized letters sent via post to the patient and their family physician at one, five, eight, and eleven months after their angiogram, sent on behalf of the interventional cardiologist. The patient letter provides a review of the role of each of the cardiac medications and urges long-term adherence. The language in the patient letter is simplified to a grade 6 level; this letter was tested for understanding and acceptability amongst a series of Cardiology patients.At the same time, close examination of data from Ontario indicated large stepwise declines in adherence at 30 and 60 days post-STEMI. To address this, patients will be provided an additional postcard type reminder two months post-STEMI.

Proportion of patients who report taking all cardiac medication classes, measured three and twelve months post-STEMI. Specifically, we will assess whether patients are taking a statin, beta-blocker, angiotensin modifier (ACE or ARB), and aspirin at twelve months, and whether they are taking these plus a secondary antiplatelet (clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor) at three months.

Proportion of patients who report actively taking aspirin, clopidogrel, statin, beta-blocker, and/or angiotensin blocker

Proportion of patients who report stopping medications due to side effects at three and twelve months

Proportion of patients who state that they had a discussion with their FP regarding the benefits of certain medications to prevent future heart attacks or that focused on medication compliance since their heart attack.

The proportion of patients using 1 of 5, 2 of 5, 3 of 5, 4 of 5, or 5 of 5 medications at three and twelve months.

Proportion of patients with a perfect Morisky Green Levine Test for cardiac medication compliance at three and twelve months.

Inclusion Criteria: Admitted with STEMI to a hospital in LHIN IV, coronary angiogram with and without PCI at Hamilton General Hospital during hospital admission Exclusion Criteria: Non-english speaking

Schwalm JD, Ivers NM, Natarajan MK, Taljaard M, Rao-Melacini P, Witteman HO, Zwarenstein M, Grimshaw JM. Cluster randomized controlled trial of Delayed Educational Reminders for Long-term Medication Adherence in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (DERLA-STEMI). Am Heart J. 2015 Nov;170(5):903-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2015.08.014. Epub 2015 Aug 20.

Ivers NM, Schwalm JD, Grimshaw JM, Witteman H, Taljaard M, Zwarenstein M, Natarajan MK. Delayed educational reminders for long-term medication adherence in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (DERLA-STEMI): protocol for a pragmatic, cluster-randomized controlled trial. Implement Sci. 2012 Jun 9;7:54. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-7-54.