Evaluation of a sugar-free medicines campaign in north east England: quantitative analysis of medicines use.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a sugar-free medicines campaign using suitable prescribing and purchasing indicators.

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN

Quantitative analysis of sugar-free medicine use, before (1995) and after (1996) the campaign.

CLINICAL SETTING

Two test and two control districts in north east England.

PARTICIPANTS

General medical practitioners (GPs) and community pharmacists.

INTERVENTION

A 12-month campaign involving development and distribution of information packs designed to increase the proportion of prescriptions dispensed sugar-free for paediatric use.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Changes in the proportion of the following which were sugar-free: (a) for target prescribed medicines (i) number of prescriptions dispensed. (ii) number of prescribed daily amounts (PDA); (b) for target over the counter (OTC) medicines, (i) number of bottles sold, (ii) number of standard daily amounts (SDA) sold.

RESULTS

Quantitative analysis of prescriptions and OTC sales showed statistically highly significant changes towards sugar-free prescribing and dispensing of prescribed medicines but only small increases in the proportion of some sugar-free OTC sales.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of the campaign was shown to be greatest in changing prescribing habits of GPs with less effect on OTC medicine use. The outcome measures used were suitable for quantitative evaluation of the campaign. POST-CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT: Sustainable changes in GPs' prescribing behaviour can be facilitated by software suppliers' modifications to computing software used for prescription writing.