Computerized Decision Support to Prevent Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most preventable cause of stroke. However, despite widely available risk stratification tools, numerous options for oral anticoagulation, and evidence-based practice guidelines, anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF is consistently under-prescribed. In a pair of observational cohort analyses within the Mass General Brigham (MGB) health system, prescription of anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF was less frequent in ambulatory clinic patients than in those who were hospitalized at the time of assessment (46.9% vs. 57.2%). Two single academic medical center randomized controlled trials demonstrated success for increasing adherence to guideline recommendations for stroke prevention in AF. To address the feasibility and impact of a computerized decision support (CDS) strategy in the non-tertiary care, community medical center setting, this study will involve a multicenter, cluster-randomized controlled trial of a more sophisticated CDS focused not only on implementation stroke prevention but also on bleeding risk assessment and management.