Could simple electronic prompt reduce unnecessary surgery in older women with early breast cancer?

An electronic health record-based nudge for surgeons may significantly reduce the rate of sentinel lymph node biopsy in older women with early-stage breast cancer.

Researchers deployed the nudge in the electronic health record schedule to help surgeons identify which patients who may forgo sentinel lymph node biopsy. After a 12-month preintervention period and equal-length intervention period, the researchers found that the rate of unnecessary sentinel lymph node biopsy decreased by about 50%.

During postintervention surveys, the surgeons who utilized the approach detailed that the nudges helped remind them to consider sentinel lymph node biopsy omission, standardize their treatment strategy and focus more on tumor biology. They rated the electronic health record-based nudge highly for acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility.

Read more: JAMA Surgery

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