Evaluation of a sugar-free medicines campaign in north east England: quantitative analysis of medicines use.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a sugar-free medicines campaign using suitable prescribing and purchasing indicators.


METHODS
Quantitative analysis of sugar-free medicine use, before (1995) and after (1996) the campaign.


METHODS
Two test and two control districts in north east England.


METHODS
General medical practitioners (GPs) and community pharmacists.


METHODS
A 12-month campaign involving development and distribution of information packs designed to increase the proportion of prescriptions dispensed sugar-free for paediatric use.


METHODS
Changes in the proportion of the following which were sugar-free: (a) for target prescribed medicines (i) number of prescriptions dispensed. (ii) number of prescribed daily amounts (PDA); (b) for target over the counter (OTC) medicines, (i) number of bottles sold, (ii) number of standard daily amounts (SDA) sold.


RESULTS
Quantitative analysis of prescriptions and OTC sales showed statistically highly significant changes towards sugar-free prescribing and dispensing of prescribed medicines but only small increases in the proportion of some sugar-free OTC sales.


CONCLUSIONS
The impact of the campaign was shown to be greatest in changing prescribing habits of GPs with less effect on OTC medicine use. The outcome measures used were suitable for quantitative evaluation of the campaign. POST-CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT: Sustainable changes in GPs' prescribing behaviour can be facilitated by software suppliers' modifications to computing software used for prescription writing.
Maguire
A
A
Dental School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Evans
D J
DJ
Rugg-Gunn
A J
AJ
Butler
T J
TJ
D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002241:Carbohydrates; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs