Computerized clinical decision support systems for prescribing in primary care: main characteristics and implementation impact-protocol of an evidence and gap map.

BACKGROUND: Computerized clinical decision support systems are used by clinicians at the point of care to improve quality of healthcare processes (prescribing error prevention, adherence to clinical guidelines, etc.) and clinical outcomes (preventive, therapeutic, and diagnostics). Attempts to summarize results of computerized clinical decision support systems to support prescription in primary care have been challenging, and most systematic reviews and meta-analyses failed due to an extremely high degree of heterogeneity present among the included primary studies. The aim of our study will be to synthesize the evidence, considering all methodological factors that could explain these differences, and build an evidence and gap map to identify important remaining research questions. METHODS: A literature search will be conducted from January 2010 onwards in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full text, and abstract data. The study methodological quality and risk of bias will be appraised using appropriate tools if applicable. A flow diagram with the screened studies will be presented, and all included studies will be displayed using interactive evidence and gap maps. Results will be reported in accordance with recommendations from the Campbell Collaboration on the development of evidence and gap maps. DISCUSSION: Evidence behind computerized clinical decision support systems to support prescription use in primary care has so far been difficult to be synthesized. Evidence and gap maps represent an innovative approach that has emerged and is increasingly being used to address a broader research question, where multiple types of intervention and outcomes reported may be evaluated. Broad inclusion criteria have been chosen with regard to study designs, in order to collect all available information. Regarding the limitations, we will only include English and Spanish language studies from the last 10 years, we will not perform a grey literature search, and we will not carry out a meta-analysis due to the predictable heterogeneity of available studies. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This study is registered in Open Science Framework https://bit.ly/2RqKrWp.

Guía metodológica para la evaluación de la eficacia y la seguridad de nuevos fármacos: implementación de las recomendaciones de EUnetHTA / Methodological guideline for the efficacy and safety assessment of new pharmaceuticals: implementation of EUnetHTA's recommendations

La colaboración European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) es la red colaborativa de agencias y organismos públicos de evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias de la Unión Europea. En este marco se han elaborado guías metodológicas y procedimientos comunes que han dado lugar al denominado HTA Core Model®. La Agencia de Evaluación de Tecnologías Sanitarias de Andalucía (AETSA), miembro de la Red Española de Agencias de Evaluación de Tecnologías Sanitarias y Prestaciones del Sistema Nacional de Salud, y de la colaboración EUnetHTA, participa en la recién iniciada Tercera Acción Conjunta (Joint Action 3) de EUnetHTA (2016-2019). Adicionalmente, la AETSA cuenta con una línea de evaluación de medicamentos. Parte del trabajo se integra en la elaboración de informes de posicionamiento terapéutico (IPT) sobre fármacos que han recibido recientemente la autorización de comercialización, que coordina la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios. Como apoyo a este trabajo, la AETSA elabora «Informes de síntesis de evidencia: medicamentos», en los que se realiza una evaluación comparada de la eficacia y la seguridad de los fármacos de los que va a elaborarse un IPT. La AETSA ha diseñado un proceso para la elaboración de dichos informes, basado en el HTA Core Model® y en las guías metodológicas de EUnetHTA. En este trabajo se describe la metodología empleada en la elaboración de la guía realizada por la AETSA para la elaboración de estos informes y se presentan los distintos apartados en los que esta se estructura (AU)

The European network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) is the network of public health technology assessment (HTA) agencies and entities from across the EU. In this context, the HTA Core Model®, has been developed. The Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AETSA) is a member of the Spanish HTA Network and EUnetHTA collaboration In addition, AETSA participates in the new EUnetHTA Joint Action 3 (JA, 2016–2019). Furthermore, AETSA works on pharmaceutical assessments. Part of this work involves drafting therapeutic positioning reports (TPRs) on drugs that have recently been granted marketing authorisation, which is overseen by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS). AETSA contributes by drafting ‘Evidence synthesis reports: pharmaceuticals’ in which a rapid comparative efficacy and safety assessment is performed for drugs for which a TPR will be created. To create this type of report, AETSA follows its own methodological guideline based on EUnetHTA guidelines and the HTA Core Model®. In this paper, the methodology that AETSA has developed to create the guideline for ‘Evidence synthesis reports: pharmaceuticals’ is described. The structure of the report itself is also presented (AU)

[Methodological guideline for the efficacy and safety assessment of new pharmaceuticals: implementation of EUnetHTA's recommendations]. / Guía metodológica para la evaluación de la eficacia y la seguridad de nuevos fármacos: implementación de las recomendaciones de EUnetHTA.

The European network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) is the network of public health technology assessment (HTA) agencies and entities from across the EU. In this context, the HTA Core Model®, has been developed. The Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AETSA) is a member of the Spanish HTA Network and EUnetHTA collaboration In addition, AETSA participates in the new EUnetHTA Joint Action 3 (JA, 2016-2019). Furthermore, AETSA works on pharmaceutical assessments. Part of this work involves drafting therapeutic positioning reports (TPRs) on drugs that have recently been granted marketing authorisation, which is overseen by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS). AETSA contributes by drafting "Evidence synthesis reports: pharmaceuticals" in which a rapid comparative efficacy and safety assessment is performed for drugs for which a TPR will be created. To create this type of report, AETSA follows its own methodological guideline based on EUnetHTA guidelines and the HTA Core Model®. In this paper, the methodology that AETSA has developed to create the guideline for "Evidence synthesis reports: pharmaceuticals" is described. The structure of the report itself is also presented.

Grado de control de la anticoagulación en pacientes con fibrilación auricular en España: necesidad de minimizar sesgos y contextualizar resultados / Degree of anticoagulation control in patients with atrial fibrillation in Spain: need to minimize biases and contextualize results

No disponible

[Quality of life after brachytherapy or robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer]. / Evaluación de la calidad de vida de la braquiterapia vs prostatectomia robotizada en pacientes con carcinoma prostático localizado. Revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a systematic bibliographic review of the literature assessing the quality of life and complications of robotic prostatectomy (RP) versus low-dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa). PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Emergency Care Research Institute, Web of Knowledge, Technology Evaluation Center, Clinical Evidence, Uptodate, Hayes and Drug Effectiveness Review Project. Systematic reviews and prospective studies comparing RP to LDR-BT in men with localized PCa were included. The primary outcome was quality of life and the secondary endpoint complications rate. RESULTS: Three systematic reviews and four prospective studies were included. RP showed better results than LDR-BT for SF-12-physical domain (p<0.01) and faster recovery to pre-operative scores. LDR-BT improved scores for UCLAPCI questionnaire-urinary and sexual domains compared to RP during the first three years of follow-up (p<0.001). First postoperative year urinary incontinence rate was favorable for LDR-BT (88.0% vs 84.5%, p<0.001). No differences for intestinal function scores for the first three post-intervention years (p = 0.02) were found. Major complications of LDR-BT were gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity, although pooled weighted events rate of the studies was not analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: LDR-BT improves quality of life in terms of urinary and sexual function in patients with localized PCa vs RP during the first three years post-intervention.

Guía para el uso apropiado de artroplastia de rodilla en pacientes con artrosis en el SSPA: documento completo / Guide for the appropriate use of knee arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis in the SSPA: full document

La guía tiene por objetivo ofrecer a los profesionales implicados en el manejo de la artroplastia de rodilla un conjunto de recomendaciones basadas en la mejor evidencia científica disponible, como herramienta de ayuda a la toma de decisiones, con el fin último de optimizar los resultados en salud, disminuir la variabilidad de la práctica clínica y maximizar la eficiencia. Como objetivos específicos se formulan los siguientes: valorar la efectividad de la artroplastia de rodilla para disminuir el dolor, la rigidez y la limitación funcional de los pacientes con artrosis en dicha articulación, así como para mejorar su calidad de vida; valorar la seguridad de la artroplastia de rodilla -en términos de complicaciones incluyendo mortalidad- en pacientes con artrosis; determinar las características de los pacientes con artrosis de rodilla, en los que la artroplastia de rodilla ha resultado efectiva en la disminución del dolor y complicaciones, así como en la mejora de la rigidez, limitación funcional y calidad de vida.

Preferencias por los tratamientos anticoagulantes orales para la prevención a medio y largo plazo del ictus en la fibrilación auricular no valvular / Preferences for oral anticoagulant treatment in the medium and long term prevention of stroke in non valvular atrial fibrillation

No disponible

Revisión de la medicación en ancianos polimedicados en riesgo vascular: ensayo aleatorizado y controlado / A review of the medication in polymedicated elderly with vascular risk: a randomised controlled trial

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de una intervención basada en la revisión de la medicación dirigida a mejorar la adecuación de los tratamientos a recomendaciones establecidas, el control tensional, lipídico y glucémico de pacientes mayores polimedicados en alto riesgo vascular, en comparación con la asistencia sanitaria habitual. Diseño: Estudio controlado, aleatorizado, con evaluación ciega. Emplazamiento: Catorce centros de salud de Andalucía. Participantes: Se incluyeron 323 personas mayores de 65 años con enfermedad o riesgo vascular alto y polimedicadas. Intervención: Un farmacéutico entrevista al paciente, revisa la adecuación de cada tratamiento teniendo en cuenta los datos de la historia clínica, elabora propuesta de modificaciones y las comunica al médico de familia o enfermera. El grupo control recibe asistencia habitual. Mediciones principales: Proporción de pacientes con uso adecuado de ácido acetilsalicílico en dosis bajas, presión arterial, colesterol LDL, hemoglobina glucosilada y calidad de vida. Resultados: De la población estudiada (edad media de 74 años, 61% mujeres), el 41% presenta enfermedad vascular. Diez meses después de la intervención (tasa de pérdidas del 18,3%) se observó que más pacientes del grupo intervenido frente al control tomaban ácido acetilsalicílico en bajas dosis (52,3 vs. 38,6%; p = 0,024). No se observaron diferencias significativas en otras variables. La calidad de vida percibida tiende a ser mejor, no significativamente, en los intervenidos en 6,1 puntos (escala de 100; p=0,051). Conclusión: La revisión sistemática de la medicación mejora la adecuación de uso del tratamiento antiagregante en ancianos polimedicados en alto riesgo vascular, sin afectar negativamente su calidad de vida. No se constatan mejoras en otras variables(AU)

Objective: To analyse the effectiveness of a medication review based on intervention directed at improving the appropriateness of drug treatments according to the established guidelines, as well as blood pressure, serum lipid and blood glucose control in elderly patients on multiple medication, and cardiovascular disease or high risk of cardiovascular disease. Design: A randomised controlled trial with blind evaluation. Setting: Fourteen Primary Health Care centres in Andalusia. Participants: A total of 323 patients older than 65 on polypharmacy and cardiovascular disease or high risk of cardiovascular disease. Intervention: A pharmacist interviewed the patient, reviewed the appropriateness of the drug treatment, taking in account health record data, proposed modifications and communicated them to the general practitioner or nurse. The control group received usual health care. Main measurements: Percentage of patients with appropriate use of low doses of acetylsalicylic acid, blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, HbA1c, and quality of life scores. Results: A total of 41% of patients (average age 74, 61% women) had cardiovascular disease. Ten months after the intervention (18.3% withdrawals), more patients in the intervention group used low dose acetylsalicylic acid than in the control group (52.3% vs 38.6%; P=.024). There were no differences between groups in intermediate clinic outcomes. Quality of life scores improve in intervention group by 6.1 points (100 points scale), but was not statistically significant (P=.051). Conclusion: Clinical medication review improves the appropriateness of antiplatelet treatment in the elderly on polypharmacy and with high risk of cardiovascular disease. No improvement in biochemistry measurements was found(AU)

Prevalencia de polimedicación y riesgo vascular en la población mayor de 65 años / Prevalence of multiple medication and cardiovascular risk in patients over 65 years

Objetivo: Estudiar la prevalencia de polimedicación en mayores de 65 años. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Emplazamiento: Distritos sanitarios de atención primaria Sevilla y Jerez-Costa Noroeste. Participantes: Población mayor de 65 años, seleccionada por un procedimiento aleatorio estratificando por centros. Se excluyeron pacientes institucionalizados, con trastornos de salud mental mayores y enfermedad terminal. Mediciones principales: Se definió polimedicación como el consumo de 5 o más fármacos de forma continuada durante los últimos 6 meses, basado en el registro en historia clínica. Se exploraron otras características de los pacientes mediante entrevista a una submuestra seleccionada aleatoriamente. Resultados: Se evaluaron las historias clínicas de 2.919 pacientes procedentes de 14 centros de salud. La prevalencia encontrada fue de 49,6% (IC 95%: 47,7-51,4), con un rango entre centros de un 33% (IC 95%: 26,8-39,3) a un 82% (IC 95%: 74,3-89,7). El 90,2% (IC 95%: 88,7-91,8) tenía criterios de entrada al Proceso Asistencial Integrado Riesgo Vascular. La entrevista confirmó un consumo promedio de 8,7 medicamentos (IC 95%: 8,4-9,0). Un 83,2% (IC 95%: 78,9-87,4) eran pacientes en riesgo vascular alto. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de polimedicación en mayores de 65 años es cercana al 50%, con amplia variabilidad entre centros. El consumo promedio de medicamentos por paciente es de 8 y la gran mayoría son pacientes en riesgo vascular alto(AU)

Objetive: To describe the prevalence of multiple medication in patients over 65 years. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Sevilla and Jerez-Costa North-West Primary Health Care Districts. Participants: Patients older than 65 years randomly chosen from district databases. Patients in nursing homes, with major mental disease, or end-of- life situations were excluded. Main measurements: Multiple medication was defined as a prescription of five or more drugs during the last six months. We assessed the medication used by clinical health records audit. Other characteristics were studied by interviewing a subsample of patients. Results: A total of 2,919 clinical health records from 14 centres were reviewed. The prevalence of multiple medication was 49.6% (95% CI: 47.7-51.4) with a range from 33% (95% CI: 26.8-39.3) to 82% (95% CI: 74,3-89,7) between centres. The large majority of patients (90.2% [95% CI: 88.7-91.8]) of patients showed criteria to be included in Cardiovascular Risk Health Care Process. Interviewed patients confirmed taking an average of 8.7 drugs (95% CI: 8.4-9.0). Among them, 83.2% (95% CI: 78.9-87.4) were high cardiovascular risk patients. Conclusions: Prevalence of multiple medication in patients over 65 years is about 50% with wide variations between centres. The number of drugs per patient ratio was close to eight. A large majority of them were high risk cardiovascular patients(AU)

[A review of the medication in polymedicated elderly with vascular risk: a randomised controlled trial]. / Revisión de la medicación en ancianos polimedicados en riesgo vascular: ensayo aleatorizado y controlado.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effectiveness of a medication review based on intervention directed at improving the appropriateness of drug treatments according to the established guidelines, as well as blood pressure, serum lipid and blood glucose control in elderly patients on multiple medication, and cardiovascular disease or high risk of cardiovascular disease. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial with blind evaluation. SETTING: Fourteen Primary Health Care centres in Andalusia PARTICIPANTS: A total of 323 patients older than 65 on polypharmacy and cardiovascular disease or high risk of cardiovascular disease. INTERVENTION: A pharmacist interviewed the patient, reviewed the appropriateness of the drug treatment, taking in account health record data, proposed modifications and communicated them to the general practitioner or nurse. The control group received usual health care. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Percentage of patients with appropriate use of low doses of acetylsalicylic acid, blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, HbA(1c), and quality of life scores. RESULTS: A total of 41% of patients (average age 74, 61% women) had cardiovascular disease. Ten months after the intervention (18.3% withdrawals), more patients in the intervention group used low dose acetylsalicylic acid than in the control group (52.3% vs 38.6%; P=.024). There were no differences between groups in intermediate clinic outcomes. Quality of life scores improve in intervention group by 6.1 points (100 points scale), but was not statistically significant (P=.051). CONCLUSION: Clinical medication review improves the appropriateness of antiplatelet treatment in the elderly on polypharmacy and with high risk of cardiovascular disease. No improvement in biochemistry measurements was found.

[Prevalence of multiple medication and cardiovascular risk in patients over 65 years]. / Prevalencia de polimedicación y riesgo vascular en la población mayor de 65 años.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of multiple medication in patients over 65 years. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Sevilla and Jerez-Costa North-West Primary Health Care Districts. PARTICIPANTS: Patients older than 65 years randomly chosen from district databases. Patients in nursing homes, with major mental disease, or end-of- life situations were excluded. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Multiple medication was defined as a prescription of five or more drugs during the last six months. We assessed the medication used by clinical health records audit. Other characteristics were studied by interviewing a subsample of patients. RESULTS: A total of 2,919 clinical health records from 14 centres were reviewed. The prevalence of multiple medication was 49.6% (95% CI: 47.7-51.4) with a range from 33% (95% CI: 26.8-39.3) to 82% (95% CI: 74,3-89,7) between centres. The large majority of patients (90.2% [95% CI: 88.7-91.8]) of patients showed criteria to be included in Cardiovascular Risk Health Care Process. Interviewed patients confirmed taking an average of 8.7 drugs (95% CI: 8.4-9.0). Among them, 83.2% (95% CI: 78.9-87.4) were high cardiovascular risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of multiple medication in patients over 65 years is about 50% with wide variations between centres. The number of drugs per patient ratio was close to eight. A large majority of them were high risk cardiovascular patients.

[Population analysis by area of health of changes in consumption, price and expenditure of cardiovascular drugs in eight autonomous communities, Spain, 2005]. / Análisis poblacional por áreas de salud de las variaciones en consumo, precio y gasto de medicamentos cardiovasculares en 8 comunidades autónomas, españa, 2005.

BACKGROUND: Variability in cardiovascular drugs is of great interest because of its high population use, its high expenditure and the availability of strong evidence supporting its use. The aim of this study is to describe variation in dispensation, price and pharmaceutical expenditure for 11 subgroups of cardiovascular drugs by healthcare areas. METHODS: This was a population study describing dispensation for 11 subgroups of cardiovascular drugs among healthcare areas in 2005. POPULATION: 93 healthcare areas of the 8 participant Autonomous Regions. ANALYSIS: Descriptive analysis of dispensation (Defined Daily Dose (DDD) per 1,000 pensioners and day (DDD/1000P/Day), average price (euros per DDD), pharmaceutical expenditure (euros per 100 pensioners) and standardized consumption ratios. Small-area variation analysis was used to analyze observed variability. RESULTS: Consumption of cardiovascular drugs oscillated between 324 DDD/1000p/Day for drugs with action on the renin-angiotensin system, and 6.5 DDD/1000p/Day for anti-aldosterone diuretics. Variation in consumption for areas in the 5th and 95th percentiles went from 1.8 times (digitalics) to 17.2 times (flavonoids), although most of the groups showed an extremal quotient of around 5. Variation in average prices was lower than in consumption (1.1 times for doxazosin and 3.7 for flavonoids) and variations in pharmaceutical expenditure was similar to variation in consumption (from 2.0 timesfor digitalics to 13.0 times for flavonoids). CONCLUSIONS: Major variations in the consumption of cardiovascular drugs between healthcare areas, together with discreet variations in price mean there are big differences in pharmaceutical expenditure from one population to another.

Análisis poblacional por áreas de salud de las variaciones en consumo, precio y gasto de medicamentos cardiovasculares en 8 comunidades autónomas, España, 2005 / Population analysis by area of health of changes in consumption, price and expenditure of cardiovascular drugs in eight autonomous communities, Spain, 2005

Fundamentos: La variabilidad en la utilización de medicamentos cardiovasculares tiene especial interés por su elevado consumo poblacional, su alto gasto, y disponer de sólidas evidencias que apoyan su uso. El objetivo de este estudio es describir la variabilidad en dispensación, precio medio e importe de 11 subgrupos de medicamentos cardiovasculares por áreas de salud. Métodos: Estudio poblacional descriptivo de la dispensación, precio medio y gasto de 11 subgrupos de medicamentos cardiovasculares por áreas de salud en el año 2005, seguido de análisis de la variabilidad observada. El individuo de análisis son las 93 áreas de salud de las 8 Comunidades Autónomas participantes. Medidas de resultados: Dosis diarias definidas consumidas por cada 1000 pensionistas y día (DDD/1000p/Día), gasto por 100 habitantes y año (euros por 100 pensionistas), precio medio de la DDD (euros por DDD), razones de utilización estandarizadas. Análisis descriptivo de la dispensación, precio, gasto y razones estandarizadas de utilización. Análisis de la variabilidad utilizando los estadísticos del «análisis de áreas pequeñas». Resultados: El consumo de medicamentos cardiovasculares osciló entre 324 DDD/1000p/Día para los medicamentos con acción sobre el sistema renina-angiotensina y 6,5 DDD/1000p/Día para diuréticos antialdosterónicos. La variación en consumo para las áreas situadas en el percentil 5 y 95 osciló entre 1,8 veces (digitálicos) y 17,2 veces (flavonoides). La variación en los precios medios fue menor que en el consumo (1,1 veces para doxazosina y 3,7 para flavonoides) y la variación en gasto fue similar a la del consumo (entre 2,0 veces para digitálicos y 13,0 veces para flavonoides). Conclusiones: Una notable variabilidad entre áreas de salud en el consumo de medicamentos cardiovasculares junto a las más discretas variaciones en precio se traduce en grandes diferencias en el gasto poblacional(AU)

Background: Variability in cardiovascular drugs is of great interest because of its high population use, its high expenditure and the availability of strong evidence supporting its use. The aim of this study is to describe variation in dispensation, price and pharmaceutical expenditure for 11 subgroups of cardiovascular drugs by healthcare areas. Methods: This was a population study describing dispensation for 11 subgroups of cardiovascular drugs among healthcare areas in 2005. Population: 93 healthcare areas of the 8 participant Autonomous Regions. Analysis: Descriptive analysis of dispensation (Defined Daily Dose (DDD) per 1,000 pensioners and day (DDD/1000P/Day), average price (euros per DDD), pharmaceutical expenditure (euros per 100 pensioners) and standardized consumption ratios. Small-area variation analysis was used to analyze observed variability. Results: Consumption of cardiovascular drugs oscillated between 324 DDD/1000p/Day for drugs with action on the renin-angiotensin system, and 6.5 DDD/1000p/Day for anti-aldosterone diuretics. Variation in consumption for areas in the 5th and 95th percentiles went from 1.8 times (digitalics) to 17.2 times (flavonoids), although most of the groups showed an extremal quotient of around 5. Variation in average prices was lower than in consumption (1.1 times for doxazosin and 3.7 for flavonoids) and variations in pharmaceutical expenditure was similar to variation in consumption (from 2.0 times for digitalics to 13.0 times for flavonoids). Conclusions: Major variations in the consumption of cardiovascular drugs between healthcare areas, together with discreet variations in price mean there are big differences in pharmaceutical expenditure from one population to another(AU)

Tendencias en la prescripción de fármacos preventivos en el distrito de atención primaria de Sevilla (2000-2003) / Trends in preventive drug prescription in the Primary Care District of Seville [2000-2003]

Objetivos: Describir las tendencias en las tasas de prescripción de bisfosfonatos, raloxifeno, calcitonina, estatinas y terapia hormonal sustitutiva (THS) entre 2000 y 2003, y medir el impacto de la difusión en los medios de la interrupción del ensayo Women's Health Initiative, sobre la prescripción de terapia hormonal. Metodología: Estudio ecológico descriptivo, con el tiempo (mes) como unidad de observación. Se midieron las tasas de prescripción mensuales de bisfosfonatos, calcitonina, raloxifeno, estatinas y THS, en dosis diarias definidas por 1.000 personas en la población adscrita a 249 médicos de familia de 27 centros de salud del distrito de Sevilla. Se realizaron gráficas de tendencias y análisis de series temporales. Resultados y discusión: Hay una tendencia al aumento en la prescripción de fármacos preventivos (salvo calcitonina), entre 2000 y 2003. La tasa de prescripción de THS sufrió un descenso a partir de la suspensión del ensayo Women's Health Initiative

Objectives: To describe trends in prescription rates for biphosphonates, raloxifene, calcitonin, statins and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) between 2000 and 2003 and to assess the impact of mass media information on the interruption of the Women's Health Initiative trial on HRT prescription rates. Methodology: We performed a descriptive, ecological study, with time (month) as the observation unit. Monthly rates of bisphosphonate, calcitonin, raloxifene, statins and HRT prescription, in defined daily doses per 1000 persons, were measured in the population assigned to 249 family physicians in 27 health centers in Seville. Trend graphs and time series analysis were carried out. Results and discussion: The prescription of preventive drugs has tended to increase between 2000 and 2003. The HRT prescription rate has decreased since the interruption of the Women's Health Initiative trial

[Trends in preventive drug prescription in the Primary Care District of Seville [2000-2003]]. / Tendencias en la prescripción de fármacos preventivos en el distrito de atención primaria de Sevilla (2000-2003).

OBJECTIVES: To describe trends in prescription rates for biphosphonates, raloxifene, calcitonin, statins and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) between 2000 and 2003 and to assess the impact of mass media information on the interruption of the Women's Health Initiative trial on HRT prescription rates. METHODOLOGY: We performed a descriptive, ecological study, with time (month) as the observation unit. Monthly rates of bisphosphonate, calcitonin, raloxifene, statins and HRT prescription, in defined daily doses per 1000 persons, were measured in the population assigned to 249 family physicians in 27 health centers in Seville. Trend graphs and time series analysis were carried out. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The prescription of preventive drugs has tended to increase between 2000 and 2003. The HRT prescription rate has decreased since the interruption of the Women's Health Initiative trial.