Randomised trial of an integrated educational strategy to reduce investigation rates in young women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of an integrated educational strategy to change clinician behaviour and reduce the number of hysteroscopies and/or dilatation and curettages for women 40 years or less with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB).

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial with six-month follow-up.

SETTING

Public teaching hospital gynaecology units with 12,000-13,000 relevant procedures per year.

PARTICIPANTS

Six public gynaecology units made up of 62 gynaecologists or trainees allocated at random to intervention group - three, or control group - 3. Intervention An educational strategy that included dissemination of evidence-based guidelines via a problem-based interactive workshop facilitated by an opinion leader and a laminated algorithm and guidelines.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The number of hysteroscopies and/or dilatation and curettages performed for DUB on women 40 years or less, clinician behaviour change and perceived booking rates of the procedure.

RESULTS

At six months, there was no significant effect on the number of hysteroscopies and/or dilatation and curettages performed but there was an increase in evidence-based behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

While the evidence-based educational strategy for the appropriate investigation of young women with DUB resulted in clinician behaviour change when applied to theoretical cases, it did not result in a reduction in hysteroscopy/D&C rates at six months.