Evaluation of a sugar-free medicines campaign in North East England: quantitative analysis of medicines use

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a sugar -free medicines campaign using suitable prescribing and purchasing indicato rs. Basic research design Quantitative analysis of sugar-free medicine use, before (1995) and after (1996) the campaign. Clinical setting Two test and two control districts in north east England. Participants General medical practitioners (GPs) and community pharmacists. Intervention A 12-month camp aign involving development and distribution of information packs designed t o increase the proportion of prescriptions dispensed sugar-free for paediat ric use. Main outcome measures Changes in the proportion of the following w hich were sugar-free: (a) for target prescribed medicines (i) number of pre scriptions dispensed. (ii) number of prescribed daily amounts (PDA); (b) fo r target over the counter (OTC) medicines, (i) number of bottles sold, (ii) number of standard daily amounts (SDA) sold. Results Quantitative analysis of prescriptions and OTC sales showed statistically highly significant cha nges towards sugar-free prescribing and dispensing of prescribed medicines but only small increases in the proportion of some sugar-free OTC sales. Co nclusions The impact of the campaign was shown to be greatest in changing p rescribing habits of GPs with less effect on OTC medicine use. The outcome measures used were suitable for quantitative evaluation of the campaign. Po st-campaign development Sustainable changes in GPs' prescribing behaviour c an be facilitated by software suppliers' modifications to computing softwar e used for prescription writing.