Promoting optimal drug prescribing in Saskatchewan
Health Services Utilization and Research Commission
Record ID 32000008167
English
Authors' objectives:
To review evidence on drug-prescribing issues and solutions, identify priority areas, and recommend actions to promote optimal prescribing in Saskatchewan.
Authors' recommendations:
The most common medical intervention performed by a physician is the writing of a prescription. Doctors today face many challenges, however, in deciding what medications to prescribe, or whether to prescribe at all.
Drug therapy in the elderly and antibiotic prescribing are areas of particular concern in Saskatchewan, as they are in most other jurisdictions. On average, each Saskatchewan senior received 23 prescriptions during 1997-98. Seniors are at greater risk of drug problems because of their high drug use and increased prevalence of health disorders. Similarly, one third of the Saskatchewan population received a prescription for an antibiotic in 1998. This rate is worrisome given the growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially among children.
After reviewing evidence on drug-prescribing issues and solutions, the advisory panel concluded that system stakeholders in Saskatchewan must implement a number of educational and information technology initiatives to ensure patients are receiving maximum benefits from drug therapy. In particular, efforts are needed to foster appropriate prescribing of antibiotics, and of psychotropic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the elderly.
Authors' methods:
Expert opinion
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.hqc.sk.ca/resources.html
Year Published:
1999
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Canada
MeSH Terms
- Aged
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
- Drug Prescriptions
- Physicians
Contact
Organisation Name:
Health Services Utilization and Research Commission
Contact Address:
Health Services Utilization and Research Committee Box 46, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon SK S7N 0W8, Canada Tel: (306) 655-1500, Fax: (306) 655-1462
Contact Name:
nisbetb@sdh.sk.ac. This organisation is now closed. Please see the Health Quality Council (HQC) website for further information at: http://www.hqc.sk.ca/.
Contact Email:
nisbetb@sdh.sk.ac. This organisation is now closed. Please see the Health Quality Council (HQC) website for further information at: http://www.hqc.sk.ca/.
Copyright:
Health Services Utilization and Research Commission
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.