Prevention of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs-induced gastropathy: follow up of protocol adherence.
OBJECTIVE
To reach a consensus on and evaluate the compliance of the protocol for the prophylaxis of gastropathy induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with 20 mg omeprazole per day.


METHODS
Three transversal studies have been carried out on patients admitted to our hospital before establishing the protocol, immediately after and 6 months later.


RESULTS
Between 16 and 24% of patients admitted to our hospital take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Before the application of the protocol 34.7% of prescriptions coincided with this use. After its establishment adherence by the prescribing doctors improved to 51.8% (c2 = 5.27, p = 0.02) and at 6 months it reached 51.4% adherence, an improvement that continued being significative (c2 = 5.74, p = 0.01). The main reason for non-compliance was the use of ranitidine instead of omeprazole. One of the most useful methods for improving adhesion has been meeting with the medical services that most use the anti-inflammatory drugs, focussing specifically on the use of the protocol.


CONCLUSIONS
The follow-up of the protocol shows an improvement in compliance after the establishment stage which is maintained after 6 months. Adherence by the prescribing doctors to the treatment, nevertheless, is lower than had been hoped.
Aguas
M
M
Pharmacy Service, Hospital del Sagrat Cor, Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. hscfarmacia@inicia.es
Pons
M
M
Barrera
N
N
Arboix
A
A
Eguileor
B
B
Delás
J
J
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa; D005756:Gastritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole