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Feather C, Appelbaum N, Darzi A, Franklin BD. Indication documentation and indication-based prescribing within electronic prescribing systems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. BMJ Qual Saf 2023; 32:357-368. [PMID: 36788034 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2022-015452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite recommendations, documentation of indication on prescriptions and inpatient medication orders is not routinely practised. There has been a recent systematic review of indication documentation for antimicrobials, but not for interventions relating to indication documentation for medication more broadly. Our aims were to 1) identify, describe and synthesise the literature relating to effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving indication documentation and/or indication-based prescribing in both primary and secondary healthcare; 2) synthesise participant perspectives to identify barriers and facilitators to these interventions; and 3) make recommendations for both practice and research. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline, Embase and CINAHL using two search concepts: electronic prescribing systems, and indication documentation and/or indication-based prescribing. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies were included; outcome measures and results were extracted to produce a narrative synthesis. Quality appraisal by two independent reviewers was undertaken using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS We identified 21 studies evaluating interventions to aid indication documentation. Indication documentation was either via free-text, selection from a list, or by use of pre-defined indication-based order sentences for individual medications. For a number of outcomes, there was a mostly positive impact, including appropriateness of the medication order (6 of 8 studies), rates of prescribing error (2/2) and some less commonly reported clinical (2/4) and workflow-related outcomes (2/3). There was a less favourable impact on accuracy of indication documentation and rates of medication use, highlighting some unintended consequences that may occur when implementing new interventions. Participant insights from prescribers and other healthcare professionals complemented quantitative study results, highlighting both facilitators and barriers to indication documentation and the associated interventions. For example, barriers included long drop-down lists and the need to use workarounds to navigate approval systems due to time or knowledge constraints. Facilitating factors included the perceived benefits of indication documentation on communication among the healthcare team and with the patient. CONCLUSION Indication documentation has the potential to improve appropriate prescribing and reduce prescribing errors. However, further benefits to the prescriber, multidisciplinary team and patient may only be realised by developing methods of indication documentation that integrate more efficiently with prescriber workflows. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021278495.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calandra Feather
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Medication Safety and Service Quality, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Ara Darzi
- Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Bryony Dean Franklin
- Centre for Medication Safety and Service Quality, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
- Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
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Young HN, Pathan FS, Hudson S, Mott D, Smith PD, Schellhase KG. Impact of patient-centered prescription medication labels on adherence in community pharmacy. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2023; 63:785-792. [PMID: 36725425 DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prescription medication labels are often constructed in a manner which hinders safe and appropriate use of medicines. The United States Pharmacopeia released voluntary standards to revise medication labels in an effort to support patients' understanding and improve medication use. OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of label changes on medication adherence before and after pharmacy implementation of the United States Pharmacopeia patient-centered prescription medication label standards. METHODS This study used a retrospective pre-post cohort design. Prescription fill claims data were obtained from a community health plan serving Medicaid patients for 1 independent community pharmacy organization across 8 retail pharmacy sites. We calculated medication possession ratios (MPR) and proportion of days covered (PDC) for medications used for contraception, asthma, hypertension, and depression from 15 months before to 13 months after implementation of the label changes. RESULTS Findings showed significant increases in mean MPR for asthma controller (increased by 0.111 [t = 0.290, P<0.0001]), antihypertensives (increased by 0.062 [t = 0.146, P < 0.0002]), and contraceptives medications (increased 0.133 [t = 0.209, P < 0.0001]) from preintervention to postintervention periods. Results also revealed increases in mean PDC for asthma controllers (increased by 0.193 [t = 0.267, P < 0.0001]), antihypertensives (increased by 0.067 [t = 0.175, P = 0.049]), and contraceptives (increased by 0.111 [t = 0.208, P < 0.0119]) from preintervention to postintervention periods. CONCLUSION We report an association between a change to more patient-centered prescription medication labels and increased medication adherence based on MPR and PDC among Medicaid recipients.
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Saini S, Leung V, Si E, Ho C, Cheung A, Dalton D, Daneman N, Grindrod K, Ha R, McIsaac W, Oberai A, Schwartz K, Shiamptanis A, Langford BJ. Documenting the indication for antimicrobial prescribing: a scoping review. BMJ Qual Saf 2022; 31:787-799. [PMID: 35552253 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2021-014582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Documenting an indication when prescribing antimicrobials is considered best practice; however, a better understanding of the evidence is needed to support broader implementation of this practice. OBJECTIVES We performed a scoping review to evaluate antimicrobial indication documentation as it pertains to its implementation, prevalence, accuracy and impact on clinical and utilisation outcomes in all patient populations. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Published and unpublished literature evaluating the documentation of an indication for antimicrobial prescribing. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE A search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts in addition to a review of the grey literature. CHARTING AND ANALYSIS Screening and extraction was performed by two independent reviewers. Studies were categorised inductively and results were presented descriptively. RESULTS We identified 123 peer-reviewed articles and grey literature documents for inclusion. Most studies took place in a hospital setting (109, 89%). The median prevalence of antimicrobial indication documentation was 75% (range 4%-100%). Studies evaluating the impact of indication documentation on prescribing and patient outcomes most commonly examined appropriateness and identified a benefit to prescribing or patient outcomes in 17 of 19 studies. Qualitative studies evaluating healthcare worker perspectives (n=10) noted the common barriers and facilitators to this practice. CONCLUSION There is growing interest in the importance of documenting an indication when prescribing antimicrobials. While antimicrobial indication documentation is not uniformly implemented, several studies have shown that multipronged approaches can be used to improve this practice. Emerging evidence demonstrates that antimicrobial indication documentation is associated with improved prescribing and patient outcomes both in community and hospital settings. But setting-specific and larger trials are needed to provide a more robust evidence base for this practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Saini
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Valerie Leung
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Si
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Certina Ho
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne Cheung
- West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Nick Daneman
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Rita Ha
- North York Family Health Team, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Warren McIsaac
- Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anjali Oberai
- Wawa Family Health Team, Wawa, Ontario, Canada
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kevin Schwartz
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Bradley J Langford
- Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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Campbell C, Morris C, McBain L. Electronic transmission of prescriptions in primary care: transformation, timing and teamwork. J Prim Health Care 2021; 13:340-350. [PMID: 34937647 DOI: 10.1071/hc21050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in New Zealand in March 2020, there was a rapid shift to virtual consultations in primary care. This change was supported by system adjustments to enable electronic transmission of prescriptions without a handwritten signature if they met certain security criteria. International research suggests potential for unintended consequences with such changes, so it is important to understand the effect on professional practice in New Zealand general practice and community pharmacy. AIM The purpose of this study was to undertake a preliminary exploration of the experiences of New Zealand general practitioners and community pharmacists when prescriptions are transmitted electronically directly from prescriber to pharmacy. METHODS Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of four pharmacists and four general practitioners gathered qualitative data about their experiences of the shift to electronic transmission of prescriptions. Participants' perceptions of effect on professional workflow, interprofessional interactions between general practitioners and pharmacists, and interactions with patients were explored. Interviews were audio-recorded, and the data analysed thematically using an inductive approach. RESULTS Four themes were identified: workflow transformation; mixed impact on interactions with patients; juggling timing and expectations; and new avenues for interprofessional communication (with some cul-de-sacs). DISCUSSION Both general practitioners and pharmacists experienced transformational changes to workflow. This was positive for general practitioners due to saved time and increased work flexibility. Pharmacists noted potential benefits but also some challenges. To fully reap teamwork benefits, more work is needed on managing the timing issues and patient expectations, and to refine the new modes of communication between health-care practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloë Campbell
- Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand; and Corresponding author.
| | - Caroline Morris
- Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Lynn McBain
- Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
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