title: Knowledge of the pharmacological profile of a patient improves the quality of prescribing, the outcomes of treatment, and the utilization of health services in primary health care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of the pharmacological profile of a patient (PPP) on quality of drug prescribing, treatment effectiveness, safety, and health services utilization in a group of outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as an open, nonrandomized trial of an intervention in health care. The outpatient intervention group (n = 39) received the PPP, and the control group (n = 36) did not. In all cases, the outcomes were observed for a 2-year period in total; in the intervention group 1 year of observation was allocated before and another year after the introduction of the PPP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PPPs reduced multiple prescriptions by 1.08 ± 1.13 drugs per patient, whereas in those who did not receive the PPP, an increase of 1.44 ± 1.48 drugs per patient occurred (P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.91-3.13). A decrease in the medication appropriateness index score of 0.81 ± 0.51 per drug per patient in the intervention group was observed (P = 0.001, 95% CI 0.63-0.93), and in the control group an increase was noted (0.13 ± 0.40; P = 0.063). The majority of patients with PPP experienced fewer adverse drug reactions (0.96 ± 0.58 fewer, P < 0.001 vs. controls, 95% CI 1.39-2.13), and they were more likely to have an improvement in health status (OR 22.0, 95% CI 5.87-82.41). Finally, the PPPs decreased both the number of examinations and the number of diagnostic investigations, on average by 2.15 and 2.26 services per patient, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a pharmacological profile of a patient in primary care practice could improve not only prescribing behavior of general practitioners, but also effectiveness and safety of therapy, while reducing utilization of health services.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Department, Clinical Center, and Medical Faculty, University of Kragujevac, Ul. Svetozara Markovica 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia. sstefanovic@medf.kg.ac.rs
authors.forename: Srdjan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stefanovic
authors.forename: Slobodan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jankovic
mesh_terms: D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019338:Polypharmacy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055771:Serbia; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs