Impact of Guidelines on Antihypertensive Drug Prescribing
Author Information
Author(s): Sipilä Raija, Helin-Salmivaara Arja, Korhonen Maarit Jaana, Ketola Eeva
Primary Institution: Current Care, Finnish Medical Society Duodecim
Hypothesis
The study aimed to assess the impact of a guideline implementation intervention on antihypertensive drug prescribing.
Conclusion
The multifaceted guideline implementation intervention did not lead to significant changes in prescribing performance.
Supporting Evidence
- The use of multiple concurrent medications increased in all subgroups.
- Intervention patients with hypertension only had an odds ratio of 1.12 for receiving multiple medications.
- Control patients had an odds ratio of 1.13 for receiving multiple medications.
Takeaway
Doctors tried to follow new rules for prescribing blood pressure medicine, but it didn't really change how they prescribed it.
Methodology
A controlled before and after study evaluating a multifaceted quality programme in a health centre.
Potential Biases
Self-selection of active GPs may reduce the generalizability of the results.
Limitations
The study may have been underpowered, and the lack of personal feedback on prescribing could have affected the results.
Participant Demographics
The median age of patients was 70 or more, with approximately two-thirds being female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.06 for diabetes patients receiving two or more concurrent antihypertensive agents.
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.99, 1.25 for intervention patients with hypertension only.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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