Adherence to the Grampian joint drug formulary in general practice |
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| Authors: | D. Stewart BSc MSc MRPharmS K. Milne BSc MRPharmS J. Krska MRPharmS BSc PhD MCPP G. Downie MSc FRPharmS |
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| Affiliation: | School of Pharmacy, The Robert Gordon University, Woodend Hospital, Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust, Aberdeen;*Pharmacy Department, Woodend Hospital, Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust, Aberdeen |
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| Abstract: | A joint drug formulary covering both hospital and general practice prescribing has been in existence in Grampian since 1990. The aims of this study were to measure adherence to this formulary in general practice and to identify who had initiated non-formulary drugs. The drug therapy of elderly patients on presentation to hospital was compared to the formulary. Of the 449 drugs prescribed 377 (84%) were recommended in the formulary. The main areas of non-formulary prescribing were antidepressants, hypnotics, nitrates and diuretics, with some non-formulary drugs being initiated by hospital prescribers. The method described was found to be extremely simple and had the advantage that it reflected actual prescribing at the time of the study. |
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