The impact of a change in prescribing policy on antipsychotic prescribing in a general adult psychiatric hospital. (9th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kelly, J.; Kelly, F.; Santlal, K.; O'Ceallaigh, S.
• Is Part Of: Irish journal of psychological medicine. Volume 31:Number 3(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 167
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2014-05-09
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1017/ipm.2014.18
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0790-9667

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="abs1" sec-type="objectives"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To examine the impact of a change in local prescribing policy on the adherence to evidence-based prescribing guidelines for antipsychotic medication in a general adult psychiatric hospital.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs2" sec-type="methods"> <title>Methods</title> <p>All adult in-patients had their clinical record and medication sheet reviewed. Antipsychotic prescribed, dose prescribed and documented indications for prescribing were recorded. This was done before and after the implementation of the change in hospital antipsychotic prescribing policy.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs3" sec-type="results"> <title>Results</title> <p>There were no significant differences in age, sex, Mental Health Act status, psychiatric diagnosis or documented indications for prescribing multiple or high dose antipsychotics between the two groups. There was an increase in the preferential prescribing of multiple second-generation antipsychotics (<italic>p</italic>=0.01) in the context of a significant reduction in the prescribing of multiple antipsychotics overall (<italic>p</italic>=0.02). There were no significant reductions in prescribing of mixed generations of antipsychotics (<italic>p</italic>=0.12), high dose antipsychotics (<italic>p</italic>=1.00) or as required (PRN) antipsychotics (<italic>p</italic>=0.74).</p> </sec> <sec id="abs4" sec-type="conclusions"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Changes in local prescribing policy can improve adherence to quality prescribing guidelines and cause clinically significant improvements in patterns of prescribing in a general adult psychiatric hospital.</p> </sec> </abstract>