A GP prescribing educational intervention involving a medication panel.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmacology
• General Practice

Background:

• Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) is crucial for patient safety and effective healthcare.
• General Practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in medication management.
• Targeted educational interventions can improve prescribing practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an educational intervention designed to enhance Quality Use of Medicines among general practitioners.
• To assess the impact of interactive, case-based learning with multidisciplinary input on GP prescribing.

Main Methods:

• A 13-month educational program involving 23 general practitioners (GPs) from Brisbane Inner South Division.
• Utilized interactive small group, case-based sessions with a panel of experts (GP, pharmacist, clinical specialist, consumer, clinical pharmacologist).
• Provided access to a therapeutic drug management phone service and assessed knowledge using pre/post multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

Main Results:

• 91% of participants completed at least nine sessions, with high evaluation completion rates (98.5%).
• Statistically significant improvements in prescribing knowledge were observed across all sessions (p < 0.001).
• Participant feedback indicated high relevance (100%), helpfulness in patient management (80%), and intent to apply new knowledge/skills (85%).

Conclusions:

• An interactive, case-based prescribing intervention incorporating medication team input positively influences GP prescribing knowledge.
• The educational approach enhanced GPs' intent to improve medication management in their practice.
• Multidisciplinary input and accessible support services contribute to effective medical education for Quality Use of Medicines.