A comprehensive appropriateness of prescribing questionnaire was validated by nominal consensus group.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate a comprehensive Appropriateness of Prescribing Evaluation Questionnaire (APEQ) suitable for human and computer use.


METHODS
This study was part of an ongoing research program examining the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of computerized prescribing decision support for providers, patients, and drug policy. A nominal group consensus process involved physicians, both primary care physicians and specialists, pharmacists, drug plan managers, patients, patient advocates, and pharmaceutical industry. Structured case scenarios of musculoskeletal problems were used to evaluate APEQ's validity and responsiveness.


RESULTS
Seventeen panelists evaluated 72 patient scenarios in two rounds. Their ratings of appropriateness, assessed by ANOVA, showed significant agreement with the experts' scores in the two rounds, which evaluated appropriateness and responsiveness, respectively. Interrater and intrarater agreement was moderate to good.


CONCLUSIONS
This formal assessment suggests that APEQ has reasonable validity, reliability, and responsiveness. Such tools could be very useful in e-prescribing and e-claims reimbursement environments and should be further explored.
Holbrook
Anne M
AM
Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, St. Joseph's Healthcare, McMaster University, 105 Main Street East, P1, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 1G6. holbrook@mcmaster.ca
Janjusevic
Vladan
V
Goldsmith
Charlie H
CH
Shcherbatykh
Ivan Y
IY
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D032921:Consensus; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal