Prevalence of potentially inappropriate long term prescribing in general practice in the United Kingdom, 1980-95: systematic literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate long term prescribing in general practice in the United Kingdom.


METHODS
Review of 62 studies of the appropriateness of prescribing identified from seven electronic databases, from reference lists, and by hand searching of journals. A nominal group of 10 experts helped to define the appropriateness of prescribing.


METHODS
General practice in the United Kingdom.


METHODS
Prevalences of 19 indicators of inappropriate long term prescribing representing five dimensions: indication, choice of drug, drug administration, communication, and review.


RESULTS
Prevalences of potentially inappropriate prescribing varied by indicator and chronic condition, but drug dosages outside the therapeutic range consistently recorded the highest rates. The lowest rates were generally associated with indicators of the choice of the drug, except cost minimisation. Communication is studied less frequently than other dimensions of prescribing appropriateness.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence base to support allegations of widespread inappropriate prescribing in general practice is unsound. Although inappropriate prescribing has occurred, the scale of the problem is unknown because of limitations associated with selection of a standard, publication bias, and uncertainty about the context of prescribing decisions. Opportunities for cost savings and effectiveness gains are thus unclear. Indicators applicable to individual patients could yield evidence of prescribing appropriateness.
Buetow
S A
SA
National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester.
Sibbald
B
B
Cantrill
J A
JA
Halliwell
S
S
D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017594:Publication Bias; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology