The Safety And Effectiveness Of Hospital E-prescribing Systems: A Controlled Time Series Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$740,460.00
Summary
Prescribing errors represent a significant public health issue internationally. In the US over 770,000 people are harmed or die each year in hospitals as a result of adverse drug events. In Australia 2% of hospital patients experience harm or death due to medication errors. The risk of these errors is rising each year with the increased intensity of medical care, use of complex and potent drug regimens and the increasing age and severity of hospital patients. Electronic prescribing systems are b ....Prescribing errors represent a significant public health issue internationally. In the US over 770,000 people are harmed or die each year in hospitals as a result of adverse drug events. In Australia 2% of hospital patients experience harm or death due to medication errors. The risk of these errors is rising each year with the increased intensity of medical care, use of complex and potent drug regimens and the increasing age and severity of hospital patients. Electronic prescribing systems are believed to significantly reduce the number of errors which occur and reduce harm to patients as a result. No studies have demonstrated that these systems result in reducing prescribing errors that cause harm to patients. Alarmingly, anecdotal evidence from overseas suggests that use of electronic prescribing systems introduces new types of errors. This is consistent with a growing body of scientific research which suggests that individuals' decision-making may be significantly influenced by information generated by a computer, resulting in new types of errors. The aim of this project is to undertake a controlled time series study to assess the safety and effectiveness of two electronic prescribing systems to reduce prescribing errors in Australian hospitals. The study will compare error rates before and after the introduction of the systems. In addition, the study will be the first to focus on measuring new types of errors that may result from system use and to investigate how computer use influences clinicians' decision-making. This study will provide critical information about the effectiveness and safety of these systems which are being introduced into Australian hospitals. Unlike other medical interventions, which require stringent safety testing before use with patients, there are no minimum safety requirements for electronic prescribing systems. The data from this study is urgent in developing recommendations to ensure the safety of electronic prescribing systems for Australia.Read moreRead less
Primary Health Care Errors Study: Qualification And Quantification Of Errors Occurring In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$191,000.00
Summary
The General Practice Errors Study (GPES) is a project that aims to examine errors that GPs notice in their daily practice, that affect patient well-being or care. Very little work has been done on this subject in General Practice in any other country, and Australia is the only country with previous research that has attempted to describe GP errors with the Quality in Australia Health Care Study (QAHCS). However, we have so far not had any research that has been done on a representative sample of ....The General Practice Errors Study (GPES) is a project that aims to examine errors that GPs notice in their daily practice, that affect patient well-being or care. Very little work has been done on this subject in General Practice in any other country, and Australia is the only country with previous research that has attempted to describe GP errors with the Quality in Australia Health Care Study (QAHCS). However, we have so far not had any research that has been done on a representative sample of GPs, or been able to quantify the frequency with which different types of errors occur. This study plans to ask a representative sample of GPs in both urban and rural areas to report their errors, so that we can try to quantify the incidence and prevalence of these different error types. No previous work has been done in Primary care which has attempted to determine the rate of recognized errors that occur in the community. In addition, since the last major work on this topic was done between 1993 and 1998, there have been many changes to General Practice, especially in the area of computerisation, and the types of problems that GPs face now may have changed significantly. Anonymous reporting is very important in order to encourage health professionals to admit to their mistakes, and in the past, projects have used paper based reporting forms, making it difficult to offer anonymity and requiring protection for participants under a Commonwealth Act of Parliament. However the GPES project will be the first major study of General Practice errors that uses an on-line anonymous reporting form, and high level encryption, located on a secure web-site, to encourage honest reporting. The reporting form was trialled in the 2001 pilot study. By analysing the types of errors occurring, and their contributing factors, we can target at-risk population groups and develop strategies to improve patient care and prevent future harm.Read moreRead less
Integration And Implementation Of Deprescribing Recommendations To Reduce Medication Induced Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,544,073.00
Summary
Older people in Australia commonly take multiple medicines for their health conditions. As people age and their health changes, medicines that were once helpful may become harmful. This research program will investigate how we can enhance treatment guidelines and use these guidelines in practice to increase discontinuation of unnecessary and potentially harmful medicines. This will lead to reduced medicine induced harm and may improve the quality of life of older Australians.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Deprescribing To Optimise Medical Therapy For Frail Older People: The Opti-Med Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,444,996.00
Summary
Many older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACF) are prescribed medications of uncertain benefit. The primary aim of the Opti-med study is to determine the safety and benefits of reducing the number of medications prescribed to frail older people in RACF. We will withdraw as many medications as possible from participants in the intervention group. Our study will provide randomised controlled data on the safety and efficacy of ceasing medications in frail older people.
Centre Of Research Excellence In Medicines Intelligence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
The NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Medicines Intelligence is a co-ordinated research program that will accelerate the development and translation of evidence on prescribed medicines use and outcomes for regulators and payers. The CRE is perfectly placed to embrace the national ‘call to action’ from the Health Minister's recent announcement to establish Quality Use of Medicine Safety as a National Health Priority.
Why Is There An Increased Risk Of Severe Adverse Perinatal Outcomes After The Use Of Clomiphene Citrate For Infertility Treatment?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,065.00
Summary
Clomiphene citrate (CC) has been a first line treatment for female infertility internationally since the 1960’s. However, safety studies using routine prescribing practices were never performed, and numerous data sources now indicate that CC is associated with major adverse outcomes if the fetus is inadvertently exposed. We are linking prescription data to perinatal outcomes to confirm how CC is associated with adverse events so as to inform prescriber and practice change.
Enabling Evidence-informed Policy To Address Australia's Opioid Crisis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,538.00
Summary
Australia has seen a near doubling of opioid-related mortality in the past decade. Recently, a range of state and national policy changes have been made to address the growing number of opioid-related deaths, yet the evidence for these kinds of policy changes is conflicting. This study will use prescribing data from general practice in combination with hospital data to understand the impact of three types of Australian policy interventions on opioid prescribing and opioid-related harm.