Drug interactions in a clinic using COSTAR.
In a study involving 1499 patients in a family office, prescription data obtained from a computerized record system (COSTAR) were analyzed to determine the drug interaction rate. While prior studies have adequately determined that drug interactions occur frequently in most medical offices this paper presents a methodology for performing such analyses in a very short period of time. By using a computer at all stages, the analysis was computed in less than four weeks and with more accuracy than would otherwise be possible. In addition to the demonstration of a method, the results of our analysis are also of interest. Overall 138 (9.2%) of the study patients were prescribed drugs with known interaction potential and among this group, 123 (72%) had interactions considered to be of "moderate" clinical significance and 36 (17%) had interactions considered to be of "major" significance.
Dambro
M R
MR
University of Arizona, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tucson 85719.
Kallgren
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000555:Ambulatory Care Information Systems; D004347:Drug Interactions; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies