A prescription for improvement? An observational study to identify how general practices vary in their growth in prescribing costs

Authors: Avery, A.J., Rodgers, S., Heron, T., Crombie, R., Whynes, D., Pringle, M., Baines, D., Petchey, R. and Cole, T.J.

Journal: BMJ

Volume: 321

Issue: 7256

Pages: 276-281

eISSN: 1468-5833

ISSN: 0959-8138

DOI: 10.1136/bmj.321.7256.276

Abstract:

Objective: To identify how some general practices have low growth in prescribing costs relative to other practices. Design: Observational study. Setting: Trent region of England. Participants: 162 general practices: 54 with low growth in prescribing costs, 54 with average increases in costs, and 54 with large increases in costs. Main outcome measures: Changes in prescribing costs in therapeutic categories in which it has been suggested that savings can be made. Results: There were significant differences between the three groups of practices in terms of their changes in prescribing costs for almost all the variables studied. For the group of practices with lowest growth in costs the most important factors were reducing numbers of prescription items and costs per item; relatively low growth in the costs of “new and expensive” drugs; increasing generic prescribing; and reducing costs for modified release products. This group of practices did not increase costs as much as the others for lipid lowering drugs (P=0.012) and hormone replacement therapy (P=0.007). The practices with the greatest increases in costs had particularly large increases for proton pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and modified release products. Compared with the other groups these practices had larger increases in costs for “expensive hospital initiated drugs” (P=0.009). Conclusion: General practices vary in their growth in prescribing costs in many ways, with growth in costs for “new and expensive” drugs being particularly important. © 2000, BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. All rights reserved.

Source: Scopus

A prescription for improvement? An observational study to identify how general practices vary in their growth in prescribing costs.

Authors: Avery, A.J., Rodgers, S., Heron, T., Crombie, R., Whynes, D., Pringle, M., Baines, D. and Petchey, R.

Journal: BMJ

Volume: 321

Issue: 7256

Pages: 276-281

ISSN: 0959-8138

DOI: 10.1136/bmj.321.7256.276

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To identify how some general practices have low growth in prescribing costs relative to other practices. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Trent region of England. PARTICIPANTS: 162 general practices: 54 with low growth in prescribing costs, 54 with average increases in costs, and 54 with large increases in costs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in prescribing costs in therapeutic categories in which it has been suggested that savings can be made. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the three groups of practices in terms of their changes in prescribing costs for almost all the variables studied. For the group of practices with lowest growth in costs the most important factors were reducing numbers of prescription items and costs per item; relatively low growth in the costs of "new and expensive" drugs; increasing generic prescribing; and reducing costs for modified release products. This group of practices did not increase costs as much as the others for lipid lowering drugs (P=0.012) and hormone replacement therapy (P=0. 007). The practices with the greatest increases in costs had particularly large increases for proton pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and modified release products. Compared with the other groups these practices had larger increases in costs for "expensive hospital initiated drugs" (P=0.009). CONCLUSION: General practices vary in their growth in prescribing costs in many ways, with growth in costs for "new and expensive" drugs being particularly important.

Source: PubMed

A prescription for improvement? An observational study to identify how general practices vary in their growth in prescribing costs

Authors: Avery, A.J., Rodgers, S., Heron, T., Crombie, R., Whynes, D., Pringle, M., Baines, D. and Petchey, R.

Journal: BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL

Volume: 321

Issue: 7256

Pages: 276-281

ISSN: 0959-8138

DOI: 10.1136/bmj.321.7256.276

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

A prescription for improvement? An observational study to identify how general practices vary in their growth in prescribing costs.

Authors: Avery, A.J., Rodgers, S., Heron, T., Crombie, R., Whynes, D., Pringle, M., Baines, D. and Petchey, R.

Journal: BMJ (Clinical research ed.)

Volume: 321

Issue: 7256

Pages: 276-281

eISSN: 1756-1833

ISSN: 0959-8138

DOI: 10.1136/bmj.321.7256.276

Abstract:

Objective

To identify how some general practices have low growth in prescribing costs relative to other practices.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

Trent region of England.

Participants

162 general practices: 54 with low growth in prescribing costs, 54 with average increases in costs, and 54 with large increases in costs.

Main outcome measures

Changes in prescribing costs in therapeutic categories in which it has been suggested that savings can be made.

Results

There were significant differences between the three groups of practices in terms of their changes in prescribing costs for almost all the variables studied. For the group of practices with lowest growth in costs the most important factors were reducing numbers of prescription items and costs per item; relatively low growth in the costs of "new and expensive" drugs; increasing generic prescribing; and reducing costs for modified release products. This group of practices did not increase costs as much as the others for lipid lowering drugs (P=0.012) and hormone replacement therapy (P=0. 007). The practices with the greatest increases in costs had particularly large increases for proton pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and modified release products. Compared with the other groups these practices had larger increases in costs for "expensive hospital initiated drugs" (P=0.009).

Conclusion

General practices vary in their growth in prescribing costs in many ways, with growth in costs for "new and expensive" drugs being particularly important.

Source: Europe PubMed Central