Table 4

Examples of educational interventions used in demand management initiatives

Educational interventionTarget populationDesignOutcome measureFollow-upResultReference
Data feedback, guideline education, face-to-face sessionsCommunityrandomised controlled trial (RCT)Test volumes, test costs6 monthsReduced costs 47
Guideline educationCoronary care unitBefore versus afterTest volumes1 yearReduced volumes 48
Information technology-linked information
Requestor ‘encouragement’
Data feedback, report-linked informationCommunityRCTTest volumes1 yearReduced volumes 16
Data feedback, face-to-face sessionsCommunityBefore versus afterTest volumes2 yearsReduced volumes 49
Face-to-face sessions, test restrictionHospitalBefore versus afterTest volumes1 yearReduced volumes 50
Face-to-face sessionsHospitalBefore versus afterTest volumes6 monthsReduced volumes 14
Test appropriatenessImproved appropriateness
Data feedbackHospitalBefore versus afterTest volumes6 monthsReduced volumes 51
Face-to-face sessionsCommunityBefore versus afterTest ratios8 yearsImproved ratios 52
Face-to-face sessionsHospitalBefore versus afterTest volumes6 monthsReduced volumes 53
Data feedback, guidelinesOutpatientsRCTTest volumes, knowledge8 monthsReduced volumes 54
Face-to-face sessionsHospitalBefore versus afterTest volumes6 monthsReduced volumes 55
Bulletins
Face-to-face sessionsHospitalCase-control, before versus afterTest appropriateness15 monthsImproved 56
GuidelinesAppropriateness
Data feedback
Face-to-face sessions,HospitalCase-control, before versus afterTest volumes2 yearsLimited effect 57
Data feedback