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.