Feedback to GPs does not reduce rates of prescribing

In an attempt to curb wasteful and expensive practices government agencies provide doctors with feedback on their test ordering and prescribing activities. On p 507 O'Connell and her colleagues suggest that this may be ineffective. In a randomised trial some Australian general practitioners received graphical feedback on their prescribing of five key drug groups. This had no impact on either the level or variability of their subsequent prescribing of these drugs. The authors suggest that prompt detailed feedback of individualised prescribing data in a clinical setting with an effective educational programme may be effective but should probably be provided by professional organisations rather than government departments.


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Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of effect of feedback on general practitioners' prescribing in Australia

Dianne L O'Connell, David Henry, and Ron Tomlins
BMJ 1999 318: 507-511. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]