In this pragmatic, cluster randomised trial general practices in the UK were stratified by research site and list size, and randomly assigned by a web-based randomisation service in block sizes of two or four to one of two groups. The practices were allocated to either computer-generated simple feedback for at-risk patients (control) or a pharmacist-led information technology intervention (PINCER), composed of feedback, educational outreach, and dedicated support. The allocation was masked to general practices, patients, pharmacists, researchers, and statisticians. Primary outcomes were the proportions of patients at 6 months after the intervention who had had any of three clinically important errors: non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prescribed to those with a history of peptic ulcer without co-prescription of a proton-pump inhibitor; 尾 blockers prescribed to those with a history of asthma; long-term prescription of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or loop diuretics to those 75 years or older without assessment of urea and electrolytes in the preceding 15 months. The cost per error avoided was estimated by incremental cost-effectiveness analysis. This study is registered with , number .
72 general practices with a combined list size of 480鈥?42 patients were randomised. At 6 months' follow-up, patients in the PINCER group were significantly less likely to have been prescribed a non-selective NSAID if they had a history of peptic ulcer without gastroprotection (OR 0路58, 95%CI 0路38-0路89); a 尾 blocker if they had asthma (0路73, 0路58-0路91); or an ACE inhibitor or loop diuretic without appropriate monitoring (0路51, 0路34-0路78). PINCER has a 95%probability of being cost effective if the decision-maker's ceiling willingness to pay reaches 拢75 per error avoided at 6 months.
The PINCER intervention is an effective method for reducing a range of medication errors in general practices with computerised clinical records.
Patient Safety Research Portfolio, Department of Health, England.