Nudges Informed by Behavioral Economics to Increase Utilization of Higher-Value Cancer Drugs

DESCRIPTION
Identifying effective ways to promote high-value, evidence-based prescribing is particularly important in cancer care, where spending is estimated to surpass $170 billion by 2020, driven in large part by prescription drugs. We found that nudges within the electronic health record directed at medical oncologists increased utilization of higher-value, lower cost cancer drugs by several fold among 115 medical oncologists treating 1,476 patients who received 4,567 prescriptions of bone-modifying agents at 5 hospital and 4 community outpatient treatment facilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

IMPACT
This study has completed. The impact has been reduced financial toxicity and reduced health care spending, with similar treatment effectiveness through efficient, scalable interventions within the electronic health record.

PEOPLE
Samuel Takvorian, MD, Vrushabh Ladage, MHCI, E. Paul Wileyto, PhD, Drew Mace, DPharm, Rinad Beidas, PhD, Lawrence Shulman, MD, Randall Oyer, MD, Justin Bekelman, MD

PARTNERS
Departments of Medicine, Divisions of Hematology Oncology and General Internal Medicine, Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Psychiatry, Lancaster General Hospital, the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Service Line, and the Abramson Cancer Center Cancer Control Program

FOCUS
Incentives to Change Behavior