RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Indicators for preventable drug related morbidity: application in primary care
JF Quality and Safety in Health Care
JO Qual Saf Health Care
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 181
OP 185
DO 10.1136/qshc.2003.008334
VO 13
IS 3
A1 C J Morris
A1 S Rodgers
A1 V S Hammersley
A1 A J Avery
A1 J A Cantrill
YR 2004
UL http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/13/3/181.abstract
AB Aim: To apply in practice a series of validated indicators for preventable drug related morbidity (PDRM). Design: A pilot study to identify retrospectively potential PDRM events over a 2 year 3 month time frame using the MIQUEST computer software program. Subjects and setting: The electronic patient record of all patients aged 18 years and over in nine English general practices. Outcome measures: The number of potential PDRM events identified, as defined by the indicators. Results: Five hundred and seven potential PDRM events were identified from 49 658 electronic patient records, giving an overall incidence of 1.0%. A small number of the indicators (n = 4) accounted for approximately 60% of the events, while for many indicators few events were identified. The most common events related to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with congestive heart failure or hypertension, lack of monitoring in patients prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and the use of hypnotic-anxiolytic agents. Conclusions: A small number of indicators contributed to the majority of the PDRM events. Interrogation of electronic patient records in primary care using computerised queries shows potential for detecting PDRM.