TY - JOUR T1 - Implementation of an intervention to reduce population-based screening for vitamin D deficiency: a cross-sectional study JF - CMAJ Open SP - E36 LP - E39 DO - 10.9778/cmajo.20160073 VL - 5 IS - 1 AU - Christopher Naugler AU - Brenda Hemmelgarn AU - Hude Quan AU - Fiona Clement AU - Tolulope Sajobi AU - Roger Thomas AU - Tanvir C. Turin AU - William Hnydyk AU - Alex Chin AU - James Wesenberg Y1 - 2017/01/17 UR - http://www.cmajopen.ca/content/5/1/E36.abstract N2 - Background: We describe the implementation of an intervention in Alberta in support of the Choosing Wisely Canada recommendation against population screening for vitamin D deficiency (as determined by serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing). We hypothesized that the introduction of a specialized requisition for vitamin D testing would reduce the annual number of vitamin D tests performed.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional observational study that included all vitamin D tests ordered in Alberta between Apr. 1, 2015, and Mar. 31, 2016. There were no exclusion criteria. A special requisition for ordering vitamin D tests in Alberta was introduced on Apr. 1, 2015. Using an interrupted time series model, we compared predicted versus observed vitamin D test volumes for the 12-month period following the introduction of the new requisition. The sole outcome measure was the monthly change in volume of vitamin D testing. In addition, we calculated any cost savings as a result of reduced testing.Results: Over the first 12 months of the intervention, there was a reduction in the number of tests ordered from a predicted 342 477 tests to 29 525 tests (91.4% reduction). This decrease represented a direct spending decrease of Can$938 856-$1 564 760 per year in Alberta.Interpretation: A provincially led implementation of a Choosing Wisely Canada recommendation resulted in a large and sustained reduction in serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing in Alberta. This study shows that provincially led interventions based on Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations can result in substantial reductions in laboratory tests. ER -