Abstract
Objective: to validate and implement an audit tool to assess quality and appropriateness of prescribing. To compare in‐patient prescribing of secondary prevention in post myocardial infarction patients before and after introduction of a local treatment guideline.
Method: descriptive, non‐experimental retrospective case note review comparing patients treated before and after the implementation of a clinical guideline.
Main outcome: comparison of quality of prescribing in two patient groups
Results: Analysis of Group1 patients showed that 41% required treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE‐I), and 23% of those did not receive treatment, 20% of patients on ACE‐I received sub‐therapeutic doses. Seventy‐two per cent of patients required treatment with a statin and 22% of those did not receive a statin. Comparison of the treatment of Group 2 showed that, of 53 patients (50% of Group 2) requiring an ACE‐I, 100% received it, although 15% received sub‐therapeutic doses. Of 69 patients (64% of Group 2) requiring treatment with a statin 96% were prescribed a statin. Improvements in prescribing of b‐Blockers, ACE‐I and statins were statistically significant.
Conclusions: Prescribing improved significantly for b‐Blockers, ACE‐I and statins after guideline introduction with anticipated benefits to patient outcomes.
References
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Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network. Secondary prevention of Coronary Heart Disease following Myocardial Infarction. Edinburgh: SIGN; 2000. (SIGN publication no 41)
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Reid, F., Fossland, B., Flapan, A. et al. Evaluation of the implementation of a local treatment guideline in secondary prevention post-myocardial infarction. Pharm World Sci 23, 177–178 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012231814131
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012231814131