Development and evaluation of a sugar-free medicines campaign in North East England: analysis of findings from questionnaires

Objective To develop a strategy for a campaign aimed at general medical pra ctitioners (GPs) and pharmacists and to evaluate the effectiveness of the c ampaign on (a) awareness of the role of liquid oral medicines containing su gar in dental disease and (b) changing prescribing and dispensing of sugar- containing medicines. Design Pre- and post-campaign questionnaires were sen t to community pharmacists and GPs and following a series of qualitative in terviews with them, a campaign was developed. Following post campaign quest ionnaires, changes due to the effects of the campaign were evaluated. Setti ng The test area was Newcastle and North Tyneside Health Authority area wit h Sunderland and South Tyneside Health Authority areas as control. interven tions An information pack followed up by a personal contact was the main fo rm of intervention. The pack comprised a Smile for Sugar-Free Medicines lea flet used in the north west campaign, abstracts from professional journals illustrating the benefits of sugar-free medicines, local dental health info rmation and computing information which could be used to adapt computer ter minals in surgeries to display sugar-free options more prominently. Main ou tcome measures Changes in the knowledge and awareness of both pharmacists a nd GPs to liquid oral medicines containing sugar as assessed by questionnai res. Results increased knowledge and awareness of both pharmacists and GPs to the role of liquid oral medicines containing sugar and the use of sugar- free medicines had taken place but these were not statistically significant . Conclusion The campaign created awareness amongst GPs and pharmacists abo ut dental issues and it is hoped that this awareness can be built upon in f uture oral health promotion campaigns. However, it is likely that facilitat ion of sugar-free medicines use will occur only if sustained and constant r einforcement is available. The methodology used presented several difficult ies in evaluating change.