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Prescribing indicators: what can Canada learn from European countries?
I S Sketris1, J E Fisher, E M Langille Ingram
1College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. ingrid.sketris@dal.ca
Summary
Developing Canadian prescribing indicators can improve medication use and health outcomes by enabling comparisons and identifying variations. This approach facilitates international research and learning from European practices.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Suboptimal drug prescribing (underuse, overuse, inappropriate use) impacts patient quality of life and health outcomes.
- A systematic approach is needed to identify opportunities for improving prescribing practices and medication use.
Purpose of the Study:
- Convene diverse stakeholders to discuss drug prescribing indicators.
- Foster methods for assessing safe, appropriate, and cost-effective prescribing.
- Increase awareness of international indicator development and application for Canadian contexts.
Main Methods:
- Convened approximately 50 stakeholders in Halifax, Canada (June 1-2, 2009).
- Included foundational presentations on evaluating prescribing quality.
- Utilized breakout group discussions on case studies (antibiotic use, prescribing for seniors) followed by feedback.
Main Results:
- European countries utilize procedures and diverse mechanisms, including financial incentives, to develop and apply prescribing indicators for quality improvement.
- Various data sources, tools, and methods exist for evaluating drug prescribing.
Conclusions:
- Developing Canadian prescribing indicators would allow for federal/provincial/territorial and international comparisons.
- A standardized system would identify practice variations, highlight improvement areas in prescribing and drug use, and facilitate cross-national research.
- Canada can learn from European countries' use of prescribing indicators.
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