University of Tasmania
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Outcomes of a decision support prompt in community pharmacy dispensing software to promote step-down of proton pump inhibitor therapy

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a computerised decision support prompt regarding high-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy on prescribing and medication costs. Method: A prompt activated on dispensing high-dose esomeprazole or pantoprazole was implemented in 73 of 185 pharmacies. Anonymised prescription data and a patient survey were used to determine changes in prescribing and associated medication costs. Results: The pharmacist-recorded PPI intervention rate per 100 high-dose PPI prescriptions was 1.67 for the PPI prompt group and 0.17 for the control group (p < 0.001). During the first 28 days of the trial, 196 interventions resulted in 34 instances of PPI step-down, with 28 of these occurring in PPI prompt pharmacies. Cost savings attributable to the prompt were $7.98 (4.95 GBP) AUD per month per PPI prompt pharmacy compared with $1.05 AUD (0.65 GBP) per control pharmacy. Conclusion: The use of electronic decision support prompts in community pharmacy practice can promote the quality use of medicines.

Funding

Department of Health and Aged Care

History

Publication title

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Volume

71

Issue

5

Pagination

780-784

ISSN

0306-5251

Department/School

School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Rights statement

The definitive published version is available online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Evaluation of health and support services not elsewhere classified