In all counties in Denmark, the consumption of subsidized prescribed drugs is registered. The dru... more In all counties in Denmark, the consumption of subsidized prescribed drugs is registered. The drugs are listed in accordance with the international anatomical-therapeutical-chemical classification system and the consumption is listed in defined daily doses and prices. Comparing the first four months of 1991 with the first four months of 1992 in a Danish county (Storstrøms Amt) shows a general increase in the amount of prescribed drugs (mean 11.0%). Ulcer-drugs, antihypertensiva, antibiotics and analgetics have increased more than 20%. The increase in prices has been 3.8%. It is concluded that these sort of statistics justify the debate on drug prescriptions and act as a tool for monitoring drug prescriptions in general practice for wanted groups of drugs. Further refinements of the statistics can be made. The increase in county grants in "running prices" has been nearly constant over the last ten years, except for 1990 due to the introduction of a special law.
Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie, Sep 1, 2005
Summary It is well known that problems with compliance rise exponentially when more that 4 drugs ... more Summary It is well known that problems with compliance rise exponentially when more that 4 drugs are prescribed. The rising use of prescription medicine forces the GP to balance the benefit of evidence group-based appropriate drug use against the problems arising when ...
This paper discusses GP perspectives on the principles underlying rational pharmacotherapy for ol... more This paper discusses GP perspectives on the principles underlying rational pharmacotherapy for older people. The rising use of prescription medicine forces the GP to balance the benefit of evidence group-based appropriate drug use against the problems arising when medication is given to older people and to consider different approaches when evaluating evidence of risk and benefit for the individual. Old people are facing a considerable risk of adverse drug reactions and recent initiatives, including the Continuous Medical Educational Efforts Programme, address issues of inappropriate prescribing practices. The authors recommend and present tools enabling the GP to focus on 'the core prescribing situation'. The logistics to optimise medication including compliance, the use of modern IT and better collaboration and communication between primary and secondary care are discussed. The authors state that a number of pharmacological regimens for older people are outperformed by non-pharmacological treatment alternatives involving competent individualised counselling and public provision of easy (transportation) possibilities for joining centres offering staff and equipment for physical and social activity (including basal aids for hearing and sight).
In Storstrøm county an investigation was carried out concerning certificates in connection with s... more In Storstrøm county an investigation was carried out concerning certificates in connection with sickness benefit during a period of two months, and the general practitioners and the social-workers were asked about their opinion of and attitude to sickness-certificates. A total of 420 sickness benefit certificates were collected consecutively, and all the social-workers and 85% of the general practitioners participated. About half of the certificates were not completely filled out and only one fifth supplied constructive supplementary information. Forty-five percent of the social-workers and 33% of the general practitioners regarded the certificates as useless when dealing with social medical cases. A systematic followup of patients with long-term sickness is an important task in primary health care, and should be carried out in co-operation with other health- and social-workers.
In all counties in Denmark, the consumption of subsidized prescribed drugs is registered. The dru... more In all counties in Denmark, the consumption of subsidized prescribed drugs is registered. The drugs are listed in accordance with the international anatomical-therapeutical-chemical classification system and the consumption is listed in defined daily doses and prices. Comparing the first four months of 1991 with the first four months of 1992 in a Danish county (Storstrøms Amt) shows a general increase in the amount of prescribed drugs (mean 11.0%). Ulcer-drugs, antihypertensiva, antibiotics and analgetics have increased more than 20%. The increase in prices has been 3.8%. It is concluded that these sort of statistics justify the debate on drug prescriptions and act as a tool for monitoring drug prescriptions in general practice for wanted groups of drugs. Further refinements of the statistics can be made. The increase in county grants in "running prices" has been nearly constant over the last ten years, except for 1990 due to the introduction of a special law.
Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie, Sep 1, 2005
Summary It is well known that problems with compliance rise exponentially when more that 4 drugs ... more Summary It is well known that problems with compliance rise exponentially when more that 4 drugs are prescribed. The rising use of prescription medicine forces the GP to balance the benefit of evidence group-based appropriate drug use against the problems arising when ...
This paper discusses GP perspectives on the principles underlying rational pharmacotherapy for ol... more This paper discusses GP perspectives on the principles underlying rational pharmacotherapy for older people. The rising use of prescription medicine forces the GP to balance the benefit of evidence group-based appropriate drug use against the problems arising when medication is given to older people and to consider different approaches when evaluating evidence of risk and benefit for the individual. Old people are facing a considerable risk of adverse drug reactions and recent initiatives, including the Continuous Medical Educational Efforts Programme, address issues of inappropriate prescribing practices. The authors recommend and present tools enabling the GP to focus on 'the core prescribing situation'. The logistics to optimise medication including compliance, the use of modern IT and better collaboration and communication between primary and secondary care are discussed. The authors state that a number of pharmacological regimens for older people are outperformed by non-pharmacological treatment alternatives involving competent individualised counselling and public provision of easy (transportation) possibilities for joining centres offering staff and equipment for physical and social activity (including basal aids for hearing and sight).
In Storstrøm county an investigation was carried out concerning certificates in connection with s... more In Storstrøm county an investigation was carried out concerning certificates in connection with sickness benefit during a period of two months, and the general practitioners and the social-workers were asked about their opinion of and attitude to sickness-certificates. A total of 420 sickness benefit certificates were collected consecutively, and all the social-workers and 85% of the general practitioners participated. About half of the certificates were not completely filled out and only one fifth supplied constructive supplementary information. Forty-five percent of the social-workers and 33% of the general practitioners regarded the certificates as useless when dealing with social medical cases. A systematic followup of patients with long-term sickness is an important task in primary health care, and should be carried out in co-operation with other health- and social-workers.
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