title: A randomized trial of the effectiveness and efficiency of interventions to reduce potential drug interactions in primary care.
abstract: The authors tested the effectiveness and estimated the cost of several interventions aimed at reducing drug interactions in primary care by designing a 15-month cluster-controlled trial. The trial involved 265 family physicians and their patients who were randomized into 4 groups: control, report (received feedback reports), session (group sessions), and face-to-face (personal interviews). The outcome was the mean of relevant interactions detected on electronic medical records. Cost-effectiveness was defined as the incremental cost to reduce drug interactions by 1%. The authors detected a baseline mean of 6.7 interactions per 100 patients, which was reduced to 5.3 interactions after follow-up. No improvement was seen in the report group when compared with the control group, whereas progressive improvement in the other groups was noted (P < .001). Incremental cost was higher in the face-to-face group (69.4€ vs 50.7€); cost-effectiveness results were slightly better in the session group (4.2€ vs 4.5€).
authors.affiliation: Murcia Health Service, Murcia Health Area, Murcia, Spain. julioj.lopez-picazo@carm.es
authors.forename: Julio J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lopez-Picazo
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Jose F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.forename: Belen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aguilera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D055695:Electronic Prescribing; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013030:Spain; D017749:Total Quality Management