Blinded randomised controlled study of the effect of a discharge communication template on proton pump inhibitor prescribing.

AIM

To evaluate whether the inclusion of advice in the hospital discharge letter regarding published guidelines for the review of PPI therapy can increase the number of patients that have documented PPI therapy review, consistent with the published guidelines, following hospital discharge.

METHOD

Patients on PPIs at discharge from hospital were randomised to either have their hospital discharge letter completed as per usual practice or to have additional information on PPI review included that was aligned to published local guidelines. Patients' GP records were reviewed at 3 to 6 months post discharge to determine if a PPI review had occurred and if that review adhered to the guidelines.

RESULTS

Including specific, guideline based, PPI discharge instructions in the hospital discharge summary did not significantly increase the number of patients receiving post-discharge review consistent with the guidelines. Post discharge only 5/26 (19%) patients in the control group and 6/25 (24%) in the intervention group had their PPI therapy reviewed in accordance with the guidelines.

CONCLUSION

We were not able to demonstrate a beneficial change in PPI prescribing practice from the inclusion of PPI prescribing advice in the discharge letter.