EFFECTS OF GROUP DETAILING ON THE PRESCRIBING OF LIPID-LOWERING DRUGS- A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL IN SWEDISH PRIMARY-CARE

The objective was to study the effect of ''academic group detailing'' on the prescribing of lipid-lowering drugs in Swedish primary care. A randomized controlled trial was conducted, randomization being by grou p. Groups of doctors at 134 community health centres were randomly all ocated to an intervention and a control group. The 67 intervention hea lth centres were offered four sessions, conducted by a pharmacist, wit h group information on guidelines for the management of hyperlipidaemi a. The number of prescriptions of lipid-lowering drugs per month incre ased in the intervention health centres and the increase was statistic ally different from the corresponding change in the control health cen tres among women in the age group 30-65 years (p = 0.03). The prescrip tion of first-line lipid-lowering drugs increased by 20% in the interv ention health centres (p = 0.03). ''Academic group detailing'' by phar macists to primary care doctors can be an effective method for influen cing prescribing practices.