Prescribing information systems; making sense of primary care data

The most comprehensive data on prescribing available in primary care are PACT data. PACT data can only be used for measuring prescribing costs and volumes. Some quality indicators have been derived using PACT data but these are limited in their value. General practice databases, such as the GPRD, hold routine data on drug diagnosis and consultation outcomes. These provide mechanisms for undertaking retrospective analysis on the appropriateness of prescribing and conducting cohort or case studies over time. In order for prescribers to move forward on a clinical governance agenda, they will need this sort of analysis to be available on a routine basis. MIQUEST and PROFESS are currently being developed to help with this.