TY - JOUR
T1 - Measurement of changes in antihypertensive drug utilisation following primary care educational interventions
AU - Horn, Fiona E
AU - Mandryk, John A
AU - Mackson, Judith M
AU - Wutzke, Sonia E
AU - Weekes, Lynn M
AU - Hyndman, Robin John
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - Purpose To measure changes in drug utilisation following a national general practice education program aimed at improving prescribing for hypertension. Methods A series of nationally implemented, multifaceted educational interventions using social marketing principles focusing on prescribing for hypertension, was commenced in October 1999, and repeated in September 2001 and August 2003. The target group was all primary care prescribers in Australia and interventions were both active (voluntary) and passive. Newsletter and prescribing feedback was mailed in October 1999, September 2001 (newsletter only) and August 2003. Approximately a third of general practitioners (GPs) in Australia undertook at least one active educational activity (clinical audit, educational visit or case study) during the period October 1999-April 2004. National dispensing data from 1996 to 2004 were analysed using time series methodology with a decay term for intervention effect, to assess trends in prescribing of various classes of antihypertensives. In particular, the program aimed to increase the prescribing of thiazide diuretics and beta blockers. Results Consistent with key intervention messages, the program achieved an increase in low-dose thiazide and beta blocker prescribing. The rate of prescribing of low-dose thiazides doubled from 1.1 per 1000 consultations in October 1999 to 2.4 per 1000 in October 2003. Beta-blocker utilisation showed a more modest but significant increase over the time of the study, with the change in observed versus expected rate of prescribing increasing by 8 by April 2004. Therapeutic options for treating hypertension changed markedly in the time of the study with the advent of ACE inhibitor/Angiotensin 11 receptor antagonists and thiazide combination products. It is important, therefore, to interpret the results in light of these changes. Conclusion A national education program aimed at GPs was successful in improving prescribing for hypertension. Lessons le
AB - Purpose To measure changes in drug utilisation following a national general practice education program aimed at improving prescribing for hypertension. Methods A series of nationally implemented, multifaceted educational interventions using social marketing principles focusing on prescribing for hypertension, was commenced in October 1999, and repeated in September 2001 and August 2003. The target group was all primary care prescribers in Australia and interventions were both active (voluntary) and passive. Newsletter and prescribing feedback was mailed in October 1999, September 2001 (newsletter only) and August 2003. Approximately a third of general practitioners (GPs) in Australia undertook at least one active educational activity (clinical audit, educational visit or case study) during the period October 1999-April 2004. National dispensing data from 1996 to 2004 were analysed using time series methodology with a decay term for intervention effect, to assess trends in prescribing of various classes of antihypertensives. In particular, the program aimed to increase the prescribing of thiazide diuretics and beta blockers. Results Consistent with key intervention messages, the program achieved an increase in low-dose thiazide and beta blocker prescribing. The rate of prescribing of low-dose thiazides doubled from 1.1 per 1000 consultations in October 1999 to 2.4 per 1000 in October 2003. Beta-blocker utilisation showed a more modest but significant increase over the time of the study, with the change in observed versus expected rate of prescribing increasing by 8 by April 2004. Therapeutic options for treating hypertension changed markedly in the time of the study with the advent of ACE inhibitor/Angiotensin 11 receptor antagonists and thiazide combination products. It is important, therefore, to interpret the results in light of these changes. Conclusion A national education program aimed at GPs was successful in improving prescribing for hypertension. Lessons le
UR - http://<Go to ISI>://000244918200006
M3 - Article
SN - 1053-8569
VL - 16
SP - 297
EP - 308
JO - Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
JF - Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
IS - 3
ER -