Quality improvement through audit: Zuclopenthixol acetate prescribing, monitoring and patient outcomes in a regional health service. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vellar, Kane; Khalid, Usman; Coleman, Mathew
• Is Part Of: Australasian psychiatry. Volume 31:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 33
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: acuphase -- medication -- quality improvement -- safety -- Zuclopenthixol acetate; Psychiatry -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/10398562231154311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1039-8562

Abstract

Objective: Prescribers' expectations of Zuclopethixol Acetate's (ZA) efficacy and tolerability are shaped by clinical experience and organisational culture; however, these expectations may not be consistent with current evidence and best practice. Methods: Quality improvement project (QIP) through a process audit of ZA prescribing, monitoring and patient outcomes (adverse events) in order to identify issues requiring intervention to align with service standards and practices. Results: QIP interventions resulted in a statistically significant shift in psychiatrist oversight, identifying high dose ZA with adverse outcomes and cessation of prescribing/administration within the Emergency Department. Clinically significant changes in patterns of prescribing were observed between pre-post intervention audits. Conclusion: Entrenching an evidence-based QIP approach to clinical practice can effect clinically significant patterns of practice change to improve safe prescribing and drug monitoring.