Education-based approach to addressing non-evidence-based practice in preventing NSAID-associated gastrointestinal complications

Table 5 Risk factors (RFs) of patients reported by doctors in the educational program according to either a non-restrictive or a restrictive definition¹n (%)

Number of RFs	Non-restrictive		Restrictive
	Phase I2	Phase II3	Phase I2	Phase II3
0	347 (20.03)	352 (20.44)	961 (55.48)	891 (51.74)
1	660 (38.11)	598 (34.73)	558 (32.22)	573 (33.28)
2	517 (29.85)	536 (31.13)	176 (10.16)	213 (12.37)
> 2	208 (12.01)	236 (13.70)	37 (2.14)	45 (2.61)
Total	1732 (100)	1722 (100)	1732 (100)	1722 (100)

¹A non-restrictive definition of risk factors for NSAID-related complications included age > 60 years, history of dyspepsia, history of either complicated or non-complicated ulcer, concomitant therapy with NSAIDs and low-dose aspirin, or anticoagulants or corticosteroids. A restrictive definition of risk factors included age ≥ 70 years, history of complicated or non-complicated ulcer, concomitant therapy with NSAIDs and low-dose aspirin, or anticoagulants or corticosteroids;

²In Phase I, the specialists received an anonymous questionnaire regarding data and prescriptions for their last five consecutive patients;

³In Phase II, the process was repeated 4-5 mo later after specialists had attended an evidence-based seminar that reviewed current evidence on NSAID-related issues, with a focus on GI prevention strategies in NSAID users.