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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.
- Source :
- European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology; Nov2011, Vol. 67 Issue 11, p1091-1101, 11p, 4 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Purpose: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- PRIMARY health care
DRUG standards
ANALYSIS of variance
CHI-squared test
CLINICAL trials
COMPARATIVE studies
CONFIDENCE intervals
STATISTICAL correlation
DRUG prescribing
DRUG side effects
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FISHER exact test
MEDICAL care use
MEDICAL history taking
MEDICAL records
SCIENTIFIC observation
HEALTH outcome assessment
PATIENT safety
GENERAL practitioners
RESEARCH funding
T-test (Statistics)
COMORBIDITY
PHYSICIAN practice patterns
LOGISTIC regression analysis
DATA analysis
TREATMENT effectiveness
POLYPHARMACY
DATA analysis software
EVALUATION
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00316970
- Volume :
- 67
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 66478590
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-011-1059-7