Inappropriate prescribing of proton pump inhibitors in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if an educational intervention initiated in secondary care can influence prescribing of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the community.


METHODS
A prospective study of PPI use in patients admitted to medical wards in a university hospital. A simple educational intervention was employed to reduce inappropriate prescribing of PPIs in the community.


RESULTS
In the pre-intervention analysis 66/271 (24%) patients were receiving treatment with a PPI prescribed in the community. In 36/66 (54%) patients the PPI had been prescribed inappropriately. Six months after the intervention 91/344 (26%) patients were prescribed a PPI in the community. In only 45 of these 91 (49%) patients was there a recommended indication.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention used in this study had no effect on the proportion of patients taking a PPI at the time of hospital admission or on the appropriateness of prescribing in the community.
Batuwitage
Bisanth Thushila
BT
Department of Medicine, Singleton Hospital, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK.
Kingham
Jeremy G C
JG
Morgan
Nia Emma
NE
Bartlett
Ruth Louise
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D017494:Proton Pumps