Effect of computerised prescribing on use of antibiotics.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the use of current prescribing software systems might raise rates of repeat prescribing, with a consequent increase in use of antibiotics in the community.


METHODS
A prospective audit of consecutive prescriptions for amoxycillin, cefaclor, roxithromycin and amoxycillin/clavulanate presented to community pharmacies in the Hunter region of New South Wales and a follow-up survey of people who received a repeat prescription, October to November 2000.


METHODS
The frequency of repeat prescription ordering on computer-generated and handwritten prescriptions; the proportion of people who filled their repeat prescription.


RESULTS
Data were collected for 1667 prescriptions presented to 35 pharmacies; 126 people who received repeat prescriptions completed the survey. The rate of repeat prescription ordering on computer-generated prescriptions was 69%, compared with 40% for handwritten prescriptions (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.6-4.2). Computer-generated repeat prescriptions were as likely to be filled as hand-written prescriptions (61% and 69%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The default settings on computerised prescribing packages result in a significant increase in the use of antibiotics. We estimate these settings result in about 500 000 additional prescriptions being filled annually in Australia for the four antibiotics in the study.
Newby
David A
DA
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medical Practice and Population Health, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2298, Australia. mddan@alinga.newcastle.edu.au
Fryer
Jayne L
JL
Henry
David A
DA
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004346:Drug Information Services; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009517:New South Wales; D010595:Pharmacists; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012984:Software
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents