Prescribing safety in UK general practice

"A cross-sectional study of patients from more than 500 UK general practices found high variation in potentially high-risk prescribing and provision of monitoring tests."

Prescribing safety in UK general practice
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
April 2016

Read more here.

Educational interventions to improve prescribing competency

"A review of the educational interventions designed to improve prescribing competencies will help to ensure evidence-based interventions are used to develop competent medical and nonmedical prescribers."

Educational interventions to improve prescribing competency: a systematic review
G Kamarudin, J Penm, B Chaar, R Moles
BMJ Open, 2013, 3:e003291

Read more here.

Influences on prescribing in general practice: why is there variation in prescribing practices?

"Prescribing is a core activity for general practitioners, yet significant variation in the quality of prescribing has been reported. This suggests there may be room for improvement in the application of the current best research evidence."

An ethnographic exploration of influences on prescribing in general practice: why is there variation in prescribing practices?
A Grant, F Sullivan, J Dowell
Implementation Science, 2013, 8:72

Read more here.

Read a summary from the Commissioning Elf here.

Proton pump inhibitors: potential cost reductions by applying prescribing guidelines

"There are opportunities for substantial cost savings in relation to proton pump inhibitors prescribing if implementation of clinical guidelines in terms of generic substitution and step-down therapy is implemented on a national basis."

Proton pump inhibitors: potential cost reductions by applying prescribing guidelines
C Cahir, T Fahey, L Tilson, C Teljeur, K Bennett
BMC Health Services Research, 2012, 12:408

Read more here.

Improving prescribing practice

The purpose of this group was "to understand the barriers to effective use of medicines by patients so that they can realise the benefits and minimise the risks for themselves."


N=1: Why people matter in medicines - recommendations of a subgroup of the Royal college of Physicians Medicines Forum
Royal College of Physicians
June 2011

Read more here.

Cost-effective prescribing

The Department has issued guidance on the use of the prescribing Better Care Better Value Indicators, especially in relation to the indicator for statins.

Cost-effective prescribing: better care better value (BCBV) indicator on statins
C Pearson
Department of Health
April 2011

Read more here.