[GPCG_TALK] NPS drug interaction project

[James Reeve]

NPS is convening an expert panel to review existing drug interaction decision support in prescribing and dispensing software in Australia. If shortcomings are identified, the panel will review a range of reference sources to identify the most appropriate one for use in the Australian setting. NPS is not developing drug interaction information knowledge bases – there are a number of quality information resources already available in Australia and overseas. NPS is also investigating the feasibility of offering drug interaction decision support via a Web service, using the drug interaction reference source identified by the expert panel. The Web service would be maintained by NPS, while the drug interaction information would continue to be maintained by the developers of the information. By offering drug interaction information as a Web service, NPS hopes to create an opportunity for interested vendors to link prescribing or dispensing software directly to a single source of quality drug interaction information. Users can then choose whether they use existing drug interaction decision support, or use the content delivered by NPS (or both). The rationale for this project stems from consultation in 2002 with general practitioners (GPs) using 5 different prescribing software packages. GPs thought that drug interaction alerts were not always relevant to the prescribing decision. One reason for this is the inclusion of many theoretical and minor drug interactions. NPS reviewed drug interaction information offered by 4 commonly used prescribing packages in Australia and found variability in the detection of drug interactions and the advice offered. The evidence-base for drug interactions is poor, and therefore improving the quality of the information is difficult. It is hoped that this project will contribute to a process of improving drug interaction decision support offered by prescribing and dispensing software. James Reeve Manager, Pharmaceutical Decision Support National Prescribing Service Limited Address: Suite 4, 65 Oxford Street Collingwood VIC 3066 Mailing address: PO Box 1143 Collingwood VIC 3066 T: 03 9412 5504 F: 03 9416 3325 M: 0403 571 646 Switch: 02 8217 8700 Internal extension: 504 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: www.nps.org.au     The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this email please notify the sender immediately, delete the email and any attachments from your system and do not print, distribute, store, commercialise or act on any information it contains.

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