Aim: To detect differences in the pattern of serum calcium tests ordering before and after the implementation of a decision algorithm.
Methods: We studied patients admitted to an internal medicine ward of a university hospital on April 2013 and April 2016. Patients were classified as critical or non-critical on the day when each test was performed. Adequacy of ordering was defined according to adherence to a decision algorithm implemented in 2014.
Results: Total and ionised calcium tests per patient-day of hospitalisation significantly decreased after the algorithm implementation; and duplication of tests (total and ionised calcium measured in the same blood sample) was reduced by 49%. Overall adequacy of ionised calcium determinations increased by 23% (P=0.0001) due to the increase in the adequacy of ionised calcium ordering in non-critical conditions.
Conclusions: A decision algorithm can be a useful educational tool to improve adequacy of the process of ordering serum calcium tests.
Keywords: calcium metabolism disorder; clinical laboratory service; clinical practice guideline.
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