The purpose of this study is to test an approach for implementing guideline recommendations for assessing and managing metabolic side effects (including weight gain, diabetes, elevated lipids) in patients prescribed antipsychotic medications.

Treatment of psychotic disorders consists primarily of antipsychotic medications, which are associated with metabolic side effects such as overweight/obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Expert consensus and evidence-based recommendations have been developed for assessment and management of these conditions; however, research studies show deficits and delays in metabolic monitoring for patients prescribed antipsychotics. This purpose of this study is to test a quality improvement intervention to enhance implementation of recommendations for assessing and managing metabolic side effects in patients prescribed antipsychotic medications.

Study Objectives are:

• Objective 1: To test the effect of an Evidence-Based Quality Improvement/Facilitation (EBQI/F) intervention as an augmentation to a national implementation initiative on rates of monitoring for metabolic side effects of antipsychotics in sites likely to encounter greater challenges to implementation.
• Objective 2: To test the effect of the EBQI/F intervention as an augmentation to the national implementation initiative on management of metabolic side effects of antipsychotics in sites likely to encounter greater challenges to implementation.
• Objective 3: To assess the direct costs of the EBQI/F intervention, and explore potential variations in costs of the EBQI/F intervention in sites with lower versus higher organizational challenges.

Methods This study employs a cluster randomized design with eligible study sites including VA Medical Centers with 300 patients receiving a new antipsychotic prescription in the first six months of Fiscal Year 2008. Twelve sites have been recruited and matched according to level of organizational readiness-to-change. Randomization to intervention or control group was conducted within each of the six site-pairs. Study participants include VA employees involved in the monitoring and management of patients treated with antipsychotics at participating sites. The intervention involves researchers partnering with clinical stakeholders, offering tailoring in local implementation strategies to address barriers to metabolic side-effect monitoring and management. External facilitation to support, problem-solve and refine implementation will be provided for a six-month implementation phase. The effectiveness of the EBQI/F intervention combined with the ongoing national quality improvement initiative at six sites (intervention sites) will be compared to six matched comparison sites exposed to the national quality improvement initiative alone (control sites).

Inclusion Criteria:

- Providers involved in antipsychotic management or management of metabolic side effects and related conditions

Exclusion Criteria:

- None

For each outcome measure, patients are selected when a new antipsychotic medication is prescribed. Some patients appear in more than one period (pre-implementation, implementation, sustainability); baseline characteristics are presented for the total sample (N=20,101) with rows for each period.

This study was planned in conjunction with a national effort to improve metabolic monitoring and management for Veterans prescribed antipsychotic medications. However, this study's implementation activities started after the national effort ended..