Influences of educational interventions and adverse news about calcium-channel blockers on first-line prescribing of antihypertensive drugs to elderly people in British Columbia

Argues that the way in which dissemination of evidence changes medical practice needs to be better understood. Controversy about calcium-channel blockers in the past three years has provided a natural experiment, enabling assessment of the impact of media stories, a national warning letter, a teleconference, small group workshops, and newsletters on first-line prescribing of antihypertensive drugs. Concludes that changes in prescribing practices occur gradually with the accumulation of small impacts from educational interventions and lay media attention. (Original abstract - amended)