[PHOLY: a pilot study of drug utilization in civil hospitals in Lyon. Results]

As shown in many studies, up-to-date knowledge is not reflected in prescribing behaviours. The aim of pilot study PHOLY (Prescription aux Hospices civils de LYon) was to study methodological and technical conditions of a drug utilization study in a large university medical centre and to evaluate the discrepancy between drug prescribing and up-to-date knowledge. Data of 1115 in-patients of Hospices Civils de Lyon were collected. We have shown the feasibility of such a study in spite of many difficulties (52.15 per cent of questionnaires received, missing data...). Reference treatments such as ACE inhibitors in heart failure treatment or betablockers for high blood pressure represent respectively only 14.6 per cent and 6.7 per cent of the prescriptions in these indications. Within the framework of quality of care improvement, the study of the appropriateness of the treatments enables identification of domains where better therapeutic information is necessary.