INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION Prescriber feedback ineffective Prescriber feedback has no impact on the prescribing levels of general practitioners (GPs), report investigators in Australia. There was no change in median prescribing rates per month between GPs randomised to receive feedback (n = 1294), compared with a control group (1146). Furthermore, feedback had no effect on very high or very low prescribers. Feedback was provided by the Health Insurance Commission, a statutory authority, and consisted of graphical displays of the GP's prescribing data in the previous 8 quarters for 5 drug classes*, accompanied by an educational newsletter. The investigators comment that centralised, government-sponsored feedback is 'not worth while'. However, an intervention carried out at the local level, providing prompt detailed feedback in a clinical setting combined with an educational programme, may be effective, they suggest. *ACE inhibitors, lipid-lowering agents, Hz-antagonists, NSA/Ds and oral antibacterials O'Connell DL. Henry D. Tomlins R. Randomised controlled trial of effect of feedback on general practitioners' prescribing in Australia. British Medical Journal 318: 507-511, 20 Feb 1999 80074'"'' 1173-5503/99/0201-00011/$01.00° Adlalnternatlonal Limited 1999. All rlghta reaerved PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 27 Feb 1999 No. 201 JJ

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INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION

Prescriber feedback ineffective Prescriber feedback has no impact on the prescribing

levels of general practitioners (GPs), report investigators in Australia.

There was no change in median prescribing rates per month between GPs randomised to receive feedback (n = 1294), compared with a control group (1146). Furthermore, feedback had no effect on very high or very low prescribers.

Feedback was provided by the Health Insurance Commission, a statutory authority, and consisted of graphical displays of the GP's prescribing data in the previous 8 quarters for 5 drug classes*, accompanied by an educational newsletter.

The investigators comment that centralised, government-sponsored feedback is 'not worth while'. However, an intervention carried out at the local level, providing prompt detailed feedback in a clinical setting combined with an educational programme, may be effective, they suggest. *ACE inhibitors, lipid-lowering agents, Hz-antagonists, NSA/Ds and oral antibacterials

O'Connell DL. Henry D. Tomlins R. Randomised controlled trial of effect of feedback on general practitioners' prescribing in Australia. British Medical Journal 318: 507-511, 20 Feb 1999 80074'"''

1173-5503/99/0201-00011/$01.00° Adlalnternatlonal Limited 1999. All rlghta reaerved PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 27 Feb 1999 No. 201

J J