Investigation of the effect of a countywide protected learning time scheme on prescribing rates of ramipril: interrupted time series study
Investigation of the effect of a countywide protected learning time scheme on prescribing rates of ramipril: interrupted time series study
BACKGROUND: Protected learning time (PLT) schemes have been set up in primary care across the UK. There is little published evidence of their effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a PLT intervention for general practice to increase prescribing of ramipril for prevention of cardiovascular outcomes.
DESIGN: Quasi-experimental, interrupted time series.
SETTING: Lincolnshire, UK.
METHODS: Prescribing data were analysed one year before and after the education for change in rate of increase of prescribing of ramipril, whether change in prescribing was related to postulated explanatory variables and to determine intervention costs.
MAIN OUTCOME: The primary outcome was the rate of change of ramipril (10 mg) prescription items 12 months after compared with before the educational intervention. Secondary outcomes included cost.
RESULTS: Ramipril prescribing at therapeutic dosage increased significantly (odds ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.07-1.93) following education by 52,345 items (31,132 items at 10 mg) at a cost of pound 292k to pound 460k depending on formulation. This occurred despite a background of secular change. Most practices were represented by GPs, nurses or both during the education. Single-handed GPs were less likely to attend. Practices showed considerable variation in response to the educational intervention. The only predictor of whether practices increased in prescribing rate after the education was whether a practice nurse had undertaken specific diabetes training. Total list size, dispensing, training or single-handed status and GP attendance did not predict a change in prescribing.
CONCLUSION: PLT schemes can contribute to beneficial changes in prescribing across a large geographical area.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/administration & dosage, Antihypertensive Agents/administration & dosage, Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control, Diabetes Complications/prevention & control, Drug Utilization/trends, Education, Medical, Continuing, England, Family Practice/education, Humans, Learning, Medical Audit, Practice Patterns, Physicians'/trends, Primary Health Care/standards, Program Evaluation, Ramipril/administration & dosage, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Staff Development, Time
26-33
Siriwardena, A N
6a4f510b-621f-47df-b4d0-93ce7caa1485
Fairchild, P
dfd295cf-9ff1-4dde-9d8b-407aa530f9df
Gibson, S
a6a49ea1-5eb3-4c5e-a02f-595348c6a253
Sach, T
5c09256f-ebed-4d14-853a-181f6c92d6f2
Dewey, M
74b151c3-2873-4860-be5c-ad70aa2a2c7c
February 2007
Siriwardena, A N
6a4f510b-621f-47df-b4d0-93ce7caa1485
Fairchild, P
dfd295cf-9ff1-4dde-9d8b-407aa530f9df
Gibson, S
a6a49ea1-5eb3-4c5e-a02f-595348c6a253
Sach, T
5c09256f-ebed-4d14-853a-181f6c92d6f2
Dewey, M
74b151c3-2873-4860-be5c-ad70aa2a2c7c
Siriwardena, A N, Fairchild, P, Gibson, S, Sach, T and Dewey, M
(2007)
Investigation of the effect of a countywide protected learning time scheme on prescribing rates of ramipril: interrupted time series study.
Family Practice, 24 (1), .
(doi:10.1093/fampra/cml051).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Protected learning time (PLT) schemes have been set up in primary care across the UK. There is little published evidence of their effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a PLT intervention for general practice to increase prescribing of ramipril for prevention of cardiovascular outcomes.
DESIGN: Quasi-experimental, interrupted time series.
SETTING: Lincolnshire, UK.
METHODS: Prescribing data were analysed one year before and after the education for change in rate of increase of prescribing of ramipril, whether change in prescribing was related to postulated explanatory variables and to determine intervention costs.
MAIN OUTCOME: The primary outcome was the rate of change of ramipril (10 mg) prescription items 12 months after compared with before the educational intervention. Secondary outcomes included cost.
RESULTS: Ramipril prescribing at therapeutic dosage increased significantly (odds ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.07-1.93) following education by 52,345 items (31,132 items at 10 mg) at a cost of pound 292k to pound 460k depending on formulation. This occurred despite a background of secular change. Most practices were represented by GPs, nurses or both during the education. Single-handed GPs were less likely to attend. Practices showed considerable variation in response to the educational intervention. The only predictor of whether practices increased in prescribing rate after the education was whether a practice nurse had undertaken specific diabetes training. Total list size, dispensing, training or single-handed status and GP attendance did not predict a change in prescribing.
CONCLUSION: PLT schemes can contribute to beneficial changes in prescribing across a large geographical area.
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 13 September 2006
e-pub ahead of print date: 18 October 2006
Published date: February 2007
Keywords:
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/administration & dosage, Antihypertensive Agents/administration & dosage, Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control, Diabetes Complications/prevention & control, Drug Utilization/trends, Education, Medical, Continuing, England, Family Practice/education, Humans, Learning, Medical Audit, Practice Patterns, Physicians'/trends, Primary Health Care/standards, Program Evaluation, Ramipril/administration & dosage, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Staff Development, Time
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 479738
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/479738
ISSN: 0263-2136
PURE UUID: d941854e-3fa7-4335-a6cf-6d2a3bddb610
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Date deposited: 26 Jul 2023 16:55
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:20
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Contributors
Author:
A N Siriwardena
Author:
P Fairchild
Author:
S Gibson
Author:
T Sach
Author:
M Dewey
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