Accuracy of pharmaceutical tracking data with regard to optometrists' prescribing

The optometric scope of practice has increased dramatically over the last 30 years. This includes the ability to administer legend drugs to facilitate the examination process and prescribe legend drugs to treat the eye and adjacent areas in accordance with state laws. However, because such laws are relatively new in some states, the prescribing optometric communities in the United States may have difficulty in making their presence known amongst the pharmaceutical tracking companies. This study looked at the relationship between prescriptions written and pharmaceutical tracking company outcomes.

Optometrists were recruited from five states--Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas--to participate in this study. They represented urban and rural practices, group and solo practices, and multidisciplinary practices. They were requested to track all prescriptions they wrote for legend pharmaceutical drugs during the months of August, September, and October 2000, as well as the number of refills authorized. Numbers were obtained from a pharmaceutical tracking company for the same optometrists for the period July to September 2000, and October to December 2000. The results reported by the optometrists were compared to the results provided by the pharmaceutical tracking company.

There was a significant difference between the numbers reported as outcomes by the pharmaceutical tracking company and the self-reported prescriptions written.

The current system for crediting prescriptions to optometrists seems to have some shortcomings. All parties involved must work to ensure that optometrists are being properly credited for the pharmaceutical prescriptions they write. Possible steps that may be taken by individuals, the optometric profession, and the pharmaceutical industry are discussed.