Study: Clinical Trial Alerts in EHRs Have Limitations

 Physicians using electronic health records that give alerts about appropriate clinical trials experience alert fatigue but rates of response remain relatively high, according to a new study. Still, overall results are mixed.

Researchers for 36 weeks documented the response patterns of 178 physicians receiving alerts for an ongoing clinical trial, collecting data on response rates to the alert and patient referral rates. Response rates declined over time, but even after 36 weeks remained in the 30 to 40 percent range, concludes the study.