Doctors Prescribe Research Articles

Antenatal size, early childhood growth, and asthma within a cohort created by data linkage.

The gestation when small for gestational age (SGA) is first associated with asthma is not well understood. Here, we use routinely acquired data from 10 weeks gestation to up to 28 years of age to test the hypothesis that SGA before birth is associated with an increased risk for asthma in a large population born between 1987 and 2015. Databases were linked to produce a single database that heldantenatal fetal ultrasound measurements; maternal characteristics; birth measurements; childhood anthropometric measurements at age 5 years; hospital admission data (1987-2015); and family doctor prescribing (2009-2015). Asthma admission and receipt of any asthma medications were the outcomes. Analyses related single and then multiple anthropometric measurements to asthma outcomes. Outcome data were available for63,930 individuals. Increased length in the first-trimester size was associated with a reduced odds ratio (OR) for asthma admission of 0.991 [0.983, 0.998] per mm increaseand also a shorter time to first admission, with a hazard ratio risk of 0.987 [0.980, 0.994] per mm increase. Independent of all earlier measurements, increased height at 5 years (available in a subset of 15,760) was associated with reduced OR for an asthma admission, withORof 0.874 [0.790, 0.967] per z score. Longitudinal measurements of weight were not related to asthma outcomes. Longer first-trimester length is associated with more favorable asthma outcomes, and subsequently, increased height in childhood is also independently associated with more favorable asthma outcomes. Interventions that reduce SGA and encourage healthy postnatal growth might improve asthma outcomes.

The Star that Fell into a Tear

The Yiddish comedian Shimen Dzigan collapsed on stage on 5 April 1980, in the Ohel Shem Theatre, Tel Aviv, Israel, in front of the 1,000 spectators gathered for the second performance that evening of Doktoyrim heysn lakhn (Doctors Prescribe Laughter). This article deals with the collapse and consequent death two weeks later of Dzigan on stage, with an examination also of the simultaneous downfall of three iconic figures from Yiddish modern culture: Sholem Aleichem, the writer of the piece Dzigan was performing; Menakhem-Mendl the character; and Shimen Dzigan the actor. Dzigan's status as the last living representative of Yiddish theatre in Israel caused many to interpret his physical collapse as the metaphorical end of the Yiddish theatrical tradition. In this article I offer an alternative interpretation of Dzigan's death and the afterlife.

Your Child and Medications—Autism Toolkit

Your Child and Medications—Autism Toolkit

Evaluating the impact of a pharmacist-led prescribing feedback intervention on prescribing errors in a hospital setting.

Prescribing errors are prevalent in hospital settings with provision of feedback recommended to support prescribing of doctors. Feedback on prescribing has been described as feasible and valued but limited by doctors, with pharmacists described as credible facilitators of prescribing feedback. Evidence supporting prescribing feedback has been limited to date. A formalised programme of pharmacist-led prescribing error feedback was designed and implemented to support prescribers. To evaluate the impact of a prescribing feedback intervention on prescribing error rates and frequency of prescribing error severity and type. Prospective prescribing audits were undertaken across sixteen hospital wards in a UK teaching hospital over a five day period with 36 prescribers in the intervention group and 41 in the control group. The intervention group received pharmacist-led, individualised constructive feedback on their prescribing, whilst the control group continued with existing practice. Prescribing was re-audited after three months. Prescribing errors were classified by type and severity and data were analysed using relevant statistical tests. A total of 5191 prescribed medications were audited at baseline and 5122 post-intervention. There was a mean prescribing error rate of 25.0% (SD 16.8, 95% CI 19.3 to 30.7) at baseline and 6.7% (SD 9.0, 95% CI 3.7 to 9.8) post-intervention for the intervention group, and 19.7% (SD 14.5, 95% CI 15.2 to 24.3) at baseline and 25.1% (SD 17.0, 95% CI 19.8 to 30.6) post-intervention for the control group with a significant overall change in prescribing error rates between groups of 23.7% (SD 3.5, 95% CI, -30.6 to -16.8), t(75)=-6.9, p<0.05. The frequency of each error type and severity rating was reduced in the intervention group, whilst the error frequency of some error types and severity increased in the control group. Pharmacist-led prescribing feedback has the potential to reduce prescribing errors and improve prescribing outcomes and patient safety.

Changes in weekend and weekday care quality of emergency medical admissions to 20 hospitals in England during implementation of the 7-day services national health policy

BackgroundIn 2013, the English National Health Service launched the policy of 7-day services to improve care quality and outcomes for weekend emergency admissions.AimsTo determine whether the quality of care of...

Improving junior doctor medicine prescribing and patient safety: An intervention using personalised, structured, video-enhanced feedback and deliberate practice.

AimsThis research investigated the effectiveness of an intervention for improving the prescribing and patient safety behaviour among Foundation Year doctors. The intervention consisted of simulated clinical encounters with subsequent personalised, structured, video‐enhanced feedback and deliberate practice, undertaken at the start of four‐month sub‐specialty rotations.MethodsThree prospective, non‐randomised control intervention studies were conducted, within two secondary care NHS Trusts in England. The primary outcome measure, error rate per prescriber, was calculated using daily prescribing data. Prescribers were grouped to enable a comparison between experimental and control conditions using regression analysis. A break‐even analysis evaluated cost‐effectiveness.ResultsThere was no significant difference in error rates of novice prescribers who received the intervention when compared with those of experienced prescribers. Novice prescribers not participating in the intervention had significantly higher error rates (P = .026, 95% confidence interval [CI] Wald 0.093 to 1.436; P = .026, 95% CI 0.031 to 0.397) and patients seen by them experienced significantly higher prescribing error rates (P = .007, 95% CI 0.025 to 0.157). Conversely, patients seen by the novice prescribers who received the intervention experienced a significantly lower rate of significant errors compared to patients seen by the experienced prescribers (P = .04, 95% CI −0.068 to −0.001). The break‐even analysis demonstrates cost‐effectiveness for the intervention.ConclusionSimulated clinical encounters using personalised, structured, video‐enhanced feedback and deliberate practice improves the prescribing and patient safety behaviour of Foundation Year doctors. The intervention is cost‐effective with potential to reduce avoidable harm.

Using a self-regulated learning-enhanced video feedback educational intervention to improve junior doctor prescribing

Introduction: Medical school graduates in the UK consistently report feeling underprepared for the task of prescribing when embarking on practice. The effective application of self-regulated learning (SRL) approaches and feedback on complex tasks are associated with improved outcomes in practice-based clinical skills.Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an educational intervention using SRL-enhanced video feedback for improving the prescribing competency of junior doctors.Methods: A prospective cohort study was designed to compare intervention and control cohorts of junior doctors undertaking simulated clinical encounters at the beginning and end of their 4-month rotation through renal medicine.Results: The improvement in prescribing competency for the intervention cohort was significant (p < 0.001) with large effect size (d = 1.42). Self-efficacy improved in both cohorts with large (control cohort p = 0.026, r= 0.64) and medium (intervention cohort p = 0.083, d = 0.55) effect sizes. Goal setting and self-monitoring skills improved in the intervention cohort only with medium effect size (p = 0.096, d = 0.53).Conclusions: SRL-enhanced video feedback is effective for improving prescribing competency and developing SRL processes such as goal setting and self-monitoring skills in simulated clinical encounters. Further research is required to evaluate transferability to other clinical sub-speciality contexts and investigate the effectiveness of the intervention for improving prescribing in non-simulated settings.

Knowledge, attitude and antibiotic prescribing patterns of medical doctors providing free healthcare in the outpatient departments of public hospitals in Sierra Leone: a national cross-sectional study.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis and irrational prescribing behaviour has been identified as a contributing factor. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge of, attitudes towards and practices regarding antibiotic prescribing of medical doctors providing free healthcare services in the outpatient departments of public hospitals in Sierra Leone. In addition, we evaluated prescribing patterns of antibiotics. The study has two parts. First, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire to assess doctor's knowledge of, attitudes towards and practices regarding prescribing antibiotics. Second, using patient medical records, we used the World Health Organization methodology on how to assess drug use in health facilities to evaluate prescribing patterns of antibiotics in four selected public hospitals in Sierra Leone. Of 130 administered questionnaires, 119 were returned, for a response rate of 91.5%. The majority of doctors (n=83 [69.7%]) agreed that amoxicillin is safe in the first 3weeks of pregnancy and considered antibiotic resistance a global (n=108 [90.7%]) and national (n=97 [81.5%]) public health crisis. Less than a quarter of medical doctors agreed that antibiotics may speed up the recovery when added to malaria (n=25 [21%]) or cold and cough (n=81 [68%]) therapies. Prescribing pattern results show that children <5y of age (adjusted odds ratio 5.199 [confidence interval 2.743 to 9.855], p<0.0001) were more likely to be prescribed an antibiotic than pregnant women/lactating mothers. Penicillins were the most commonly prescribed pharmacological class of antibiotics, with amoxicillin being the most commonly prescribed penicillin. Doctors demonstrated a sound knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotics resistance, with a positive attitude towards prescribing antibiotics. However, the prescribing pattern of antibiotics was irrational, necessitating the need for the establishment of audit and feedback programmes such as antimicrobial stewardship programmes.

Foundation year one and year two doctors’ prescribing errors: a comparison of their causes

ObjectiveJunior doctors have the highest rates of prescribing errors, yet no study has set out to understand the differences between completely novice prescribers (Foundation year one (FY1) doctors) and those...

Perspectives of healthcare professionals in Qatar on causes of medication errors: A mixed methods study of safety culture

BackgroundThere is a lack of robust, rigorous mixed methods studies of patient safety culture generally and notably those which incorporate behavioural theories of change. The study aimed to quantify and explain key aspects of patient safety culture which were of most concern to healthcare professionals in Qatar.MethodsA sequential explanatory mixed methods design of a cross-sectional survey followed by focus groups in Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. All doctors, nurses and pharmacists were invited to complete the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS). Respondents expressing interest in focus group participation were sampled purposively, and discussions based on survey findings using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to explain behavioural determinants.ResultsOne thousand, six hundred and four questionnaires were received (67.9% nurses, 13.3% doctors, 12.9% pharmacists). HSOPS composites with the lowest levels of positive responses were non-punitive response to errors (24.0% positive) and staffing (36.2%). Specific TDF determinants potentially associated with these composites were social/professional role and identity, emotions, and environmental context and resources. Thematic analysis identified issues of doctors relying on pharmacists to correct their errors and being reluctant to alter the prescribing of fellow doctors. There was a lack of recognition of nurses’ roles and frequent policy non-adherence. Stress, workload and lack of staff at key times were perceived to be major contributors to errors.ConclusionsThis study has quantified areas of concern relating to patient safety culture in Qatar and suggested important behavioural determinants. Rather than focusing on changing behaviour at the individual practitioner level, action may be required at the organisational strategic level to review policies, structures (including resource allocation and distribution) and processes which aim to promote patient safety culture.

AB91. 63. An audit of antimicrobial prescribing practices in emergency surgical admissions

Background: Antimicrobials are a major component in the management of surgical conditions and efficacious agents are a precious resource Antibiotic prescribing in the acute surgical setting is frequently not adherent to best practice guidelines. The aims of this study were to determine: the rate of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing in acute surgical admissions, if a correlation existed between grade of doctor and inappropriate prescribing, whether the regimen was changed after review by a senior surgeon.

Interventions to improve antimicrobial prescribing of doctors in training (IMPACT): a realist review

BackgroundInterventions to improve the antimicrobial prescribing practices of doctors have been implemented widely to curtail the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, but have been met with varying levels of success.ObjectivesThis study aimed to generate an in-depth understanding of how antimicrobial prescribing interventions ‘work’ (or do not work) for doctors in training by taking into account the wider context in which prescribing decisions are enacted.DesignThe review followed a realist approach to evidence synthesis, which uses an interpretive, theory-driven analysis of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods data from relevant studies.SettingPrimary and secondary care.ParticipantsNot applicable.InterventionsStudies related to antimicrobial prescribing for doctors in training.Main outcome measuresNot applicable.Data sourcesEMBASE (via Ovid), MEDLINE (via Ovid), MEDLINE In-Process &amp; Other Non-Indexed Citations (via Ovid), PsycINFO (via Ovid), Web of Science core collection limited to Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science (CPCI-S) (via Thomson Reuters), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) database (all via The Cochrane Library), Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) (via ProQuest), Google Scholar (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) and expert recommendations.Review methodsClearly bounded searches of electronic databases were supplemented by citation tracking and grey literature. Following quality standards for realist reviews, the retrieved articles were systematically screened and iteratively analysed to develop theoretically driven explanations. A programme theory was produced with input from a stakeholder group consisting of practitioners and patient representatives.ResultsA total of 131 articles were included. The overarching programme theory developed from the analysis of these articles explains how and why doctors in training decide to passively comply with or actively follow (1) seniors’ prescribing habits, (2) the way seniors take into account prescribing aids and seek the views of other health professionals and (3) the way seniors negotiate patient expectations. The programme theory also explains what drives willingness or reluctance to ask questions about antimicrobial prescribing or to challenge the decisions made by seniors. The review outlines how these outcomes result from complex inter-relationships between the contexts of practice doctors in training are embedded in (hierarchical relationships, powerful prescribing norms, unclear roles and responsibilities, implicit expectations about knowledge levels and application in practice) and the mechanisms triggered in these contexts (fear of criticism and individual responsibility, reputation management, position in the clinical team and appearing competent). Drawing on these findings, we set out explicit recommendations for optimal tailoring, design and implementation of antimicrobial prescribing interventions targeted at doctors in training.LimitationsMost articles included in the review discussed hospital-based, rather than primary, care. In cases when few data were available to fully capture all the nuances between context, mechanisms and outcomes, we have been explicit about the strength of our arguments.ConclusionsThis review contributes to our understanding of how antimicrobial prescribing interventions for doctors in training can be better embedded in the hierarchical and interprofessional dynamics of different health-care settings.Future workMore work is required to understand how interprofessional support for doctors in training can contribute to appropriate prescribing in the context of hierarchical dynamics.Study registrationThis study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42015017802.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Do final-year medical students have sufficient prescribing competencies? A systematic literature review.

AimsPrescribing errors are an important cause of patient safety incidents and are frequently caused by junior doctors. This might be because the prescribing competence of final‐year medical students is poor as a result of inadequate clinical pharmacology and therapeutic (CPT) education. We reviewed the literature to investigate which prescribing competencies medical students should have acquired in order to prescribe safely and effectively, and whether these have been attained by the time they graduate.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE and ERIC databases were searched from the earliest dates up to and including January 2017, using the terms ‘prescribing’, ‘competence’ and ‘medical students’ in combination. Articles describing or evaluating essential prescribing competencies of final‐year medical students were included.ResultsTwenty‐five articles describing, and 47 articles evaluating, the prescribing competencies of final‐year students were included. Although there seems to be some agreement, we found no clear consensus among CPT teachers on which prescribing competencies medical students should have when they graduate. Studies showed that students had a general lack of preparedness, self‐confidence, knowledge and skills, specifically regarding general and antimicrobial prescribing and pharmacovigilance. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, given the heterogeneity and methodological weaknesses of the included studies.ConclusionsThere is considerable evidence that final‐year students have insufficient competencies to prescribe safely and effectively, although there is a need for a greater consensus among CPT teachers on the required competencies. Changes in undergraduate CPT education are urgently required in order to improve the prescribing of future doctors.

Doctor-Related Medication Safety Incidents on a Specialist Palliative Medicine Inpatient Unit: A Retrospective Analysis of Three Years of Voluntary Reporting

ABSTRACTPatients receiving palliative care and those at the end of life are known to be susceptible to medical errors. Errors related to medications are the most avoidable cause of patient harm. This retrospective study examined reported anonymized medication safety incidents, related to physician errors, assessed by the risk committee in a specialist palliative care unit over a 3-year time period. The aim of the study was to describe medication errors, with specific attention paid to what type of errors occurred and when these errors happened. Of the 218 reported medication safety incidents 28% (n = 62) were related to doctor prescribing. The data showed that there was a wide variation per year in the numbers of reported medication safety incidents. Medication prescribing errors were the most common error, followed by medication omissions. Medication safety incidents are at least in part dependent on staff reporting. Fostering a culture of openness that is blame free is crucial to medication error reporting. Formal reporting may help to increase patient safety and forms an essential element in the clinical governance and risk management of an institution.

Prescriber and dispenser perceptions about antibiotic use in acute uncomplicated childhood diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infection in New Delhi: Qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE:The objective of the study was to explore the prescribing practices, knowledge, and attitudes of primary care doctors and community pharmacists, regarding antibiotic use in acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and diarrhea in children to better understand causes of misuse and identify provider suggestions to change such behavior.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Two focus group discussions (FGDs) each were conducted with primary care government doctors (GDs), private general practitioners (GPs), pediatricians, and community pharmacists in Delhi. Each FGD had 8–12 participants and lasted 2 h. Furthermore, 22 individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with providers of varying type and experience at their workplaces. Thematic and summative qualitative content analysis was done.RESULTS:All groups admitted to overusing antibiotics, GPs appearing to use more antibiotics than GDs and pediatricians for URTI and diarrhea in children. Pharmacists copy the prescribing of neighborhood doctors. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) knowledge was poor for all stakeholders except pediatricians. Causes for prescribing antibiotics were patient pressure, profit motive, lack of follow-up and in addition for GDs, workload, no diagnostic facility, and pressure to use near-expiry medicines. Knowledge was gained through self-experience, copying others, information from pharmaceutical companies, and for some, training, continuous medical education/conferences. All groups blamed other professional groups/quacks for antibiotic overuse. Interventions suggested were sensitizing and empowering prescribers through training of providers and the public about the appropriate antibiotic use and AMR and implementing stricter regulations.CONCLUSIONS:A package of interventions targeting providers and consumers is urgently needed for awareness and change in behavior to reduce inappropriate community antibiotic use.

Challenges constraining access to insulin in the private-sector market of Delhi, India

ObjectiveIndia's majority of patients—including those living with diabetes—seek healthcare in the private sector through out-of-pocket (OOP) payments. We studied access to insulin in the private-sector market of Delhi state, India.MethodsA...

National Board Offers Guidance for Doctors Prescribing Medical Marijuana

National Board Offers Guidance for Doctors Prescribing Medical Marijuana

A study to investigate the factors that influence the prescribing habits of non-consultant hospital doctors in Ireland.

The Health Service Executive estimates it spent just under €2 billion on medicines in 2013 following a fivefold increase in the cost of medicines over the preceding decade. With this increasing cost, it is important to understand what factors affect doctors prescribing. To investigate the influencing factors on prescribing of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) in Irish hospitals and to provide data regarding the sources of information NCHD's use for commonly prescribed drugs. All medical manpower offices of adult public hospitals in the Republic of Ireland were emailed with our survey for distribution to NCHDs. It contained demographic information and questions regarding factors which most influence their prescribing of particular drug groups. Tests of significance were carried out using Chi-square. One hundred and seventy-nine surveys were returned out of a possible 8987 (0.02%). Consultant preference was the biggest overall influencing factor on junior doctors prescribing (27%). This was closely followed by local departmental policies (26%). Evidence-based prescribing only influenced 14% of the total prescribing of NCHDs with the pharmaceutical representative influence only a fraction behind (13%). Knowledge obtained during medical school greater influenced postgraduate prescribing than undergraduate (34 vs 14%, p=0.046). Registrars were significantly more likely to prescribe using evidence-based medicine than intern and SHOs (p=0.03). The prescription of medications in Ireland by NCHDs varies greatly depending not only on drug group, but it is also affected by the doctors' previous education and experience. This information is key in leading to sensible cost-effective prescribing.

Antibiotic prescribing of village doctors for children under 15 years with upper respiratory tract infections in rural China: A qualitative study.

The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of village doctors regarding the prescribing of antibiotics for children under 15 years with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in rural China. Twelve focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in Xianning, a prefecture-level city in rural China, during December 2014. We conducted 6 FGDs with 35 village doctors, 3 with 13 primary caregivers (11 parents), and 3 with 17 directors of township hospitals, county-level health bureaus, county-level Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or county-level Chinese Food and Drug Administration offices. Audio records of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. Participants believed that unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for children under 15 years with The occurrence of URTIs was a problem in village clinics in rural China. The discussions revealed that most of the village doctors had inadequate knowledge and misconceptions about antibiotic use, which was an important factor in the unnecessary prescribing. Village doctors and directors reported that the doctors’ fear of complications, the primary caregivers’ pressure for antibiotic treatment, and the financial considerations of patient retention were the main factors influencing the decision to prescribe antibiotics. Most of the primary caregivers insisted on antibiotics, even when the village doctors were reluctant to prescribe them, and they preferred to go to see those village doctors who prescribed antibiotics. The interviewees also gave their opinions on what would be the most effective measures for optimizing antibiotic prescriptions; these included educational/training campaigns, strict regulations on antibiotic prescription, and improved supervision. Findings emphasized the need to improve the dissemination of information and training/education, and implement legislation on the rational use of antibiotics. And it also provided helpful information to guide the design of more effective interventions to promote prudent antibiotic use and good antimicrobial stewardship.

Which Doctors Prescribe the Drugs to Which Prescription-Related Deaths Are Attributed?

Investigators queried the San Diego County Medical Examiner's database to identify all deaths that were attributed to prescription drugs in 2013, and