How useful are prescribing indicators based on the DU90% method to distinguish the quality of prescribing between pharmacotherapy audit meetings with different levels of functioning?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to assess the association between the quality of drug prescribing based on three indicator types derived from the DU90% method and different levels of functioning in pharmacotherapy audit meetings (PTAMs).


METHODS
The level of functioning in PTAMs in 2004 was assessed by a standard questionnaire. Data on prescriptions in 2004 by the GPs participating in the included PTAMs were extracted from the database of the Foundation for Pharmaceutical Statistics. Three types of DU90% indicators were computed for the seven mostly prescribed drug classes. With univariate and multivariate analyses of variance, differences in the results of three types of indicators for each of the seven drug classes were assessed according to the levels of PTAMs.


RESULTS
For 84 PTAMs with varying levels of functioning, we found no association between the level of PTAM and the quality of prescribing for any of the indicators within the seven drug classes. In general, results gained of all PTAMs seemed to be high in quality for the aspects measured.


CONCLUSIONS
It is difficult to define indicators based on the DU90% method, which can readily distinguish differences in the quality of drug prescribing between PTAMs with different levels of functioning. Indicators for prescribing should specifically meet relevant items in the quality of prescribing for certain drug classes. Items for classification of PTAM levels may need some reconsideration.
Teichert
Martina
M
Scientific Institute Dutch Pharmacists, Alexanderstraat 11, 2514 JL The Hague, The Netherlands. m.teichert@winap.nl
van der Aalst
Angelie
A
de Wit
Hans
H
Stroo
Marcel
M
De Smet
Peter A G M
PA
D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires