[Extent of the use of systemic anti-infective agents in a rural health area in Asturias. Comparison of the years 1994 and 1995].

OBJECTIVE

To establish how widely used systemic drugs against infection were in 1994 and 1995. To compare the interannual variation and evaluate whether this is consistent with CFyT interventions to improve prescription habits.

DESIGN

Comparative before-and-after study without a control group.

SETTING

A rural Health Area with 57,536 inhabitants, 24.01% of whom were over 65.

PARTICIPANTS

All the general practitioners in the Primary Care public network in this Health Area who prescribed medicines charged to the SNS (National Health Service) in 1994 and 1995.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

All the prescriptions billed to the SNS were processed. Prevalence of use was measured by the variable N(o)DDD/1,000 inhabitants per day. Annual values and variations were obtained for each medicine, therapeutic groupings and indicators proposed to measure aspects pursued in the interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Through the application of the DDD unit of measurement, broad data bases on medicine consumption can be exploited, and simplified intuitive information about the use of medicines can be obtained. The results of the variations in the indicators linked to the interventions show the efficacy of the interventions.