DO PRESCRIBING FORMULARIES HELP GPS PRESCRIBE FROM A NARROWER RANGE OF DRUGS - A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF THE INTRODUCTION OF PRESCRIBING FORMULARIES FOR NSAIDS

Background. Previous studies have suggested that prescribing formulari es may promote rational prescribing. The range of drugs prescribed may be one aspect of rational prescribing. Aim. To determine whether the introduction of prescribing formularies helps general practitioners (G Ps) to prescribe from a narrower range of non-steroidal anti-inflammat ory drugs (NSAIDs). Method. General practices in Lincolnshire were off ered help in developing prescribing formularies. Ten practices decided to develop a formulary for NSAIDs. Level 3 PACT data were used to det ermine whether changes in prescribing had occurred with the introducti on of the formulary. Matched controls were used to determine whether s imilar changes had occurred in other practices. Results. Between April and June 1992, and during the same period in 1993, practices that int roduced a formulary for NSAIDs reduced the mean number of different dr ugs used (74.3 versus 13.1, P = 0.04) and increased the percentage of NSAID-defined daily doses coming from the three most commonly used dru gs (70.1% versus 74.8%, P = 0.02). Similar changes were not seen in co ntrol practices. Conclusion. Following the development of a formulary for NSAIDs, practices prescribed from a narrower range of drugs and fo cused a greater proportion of their prescribing on their three most co mmonly used drugs.