IJPP 2003, 11: 175-181
© 2003 Int J Pharm Pract
Received November 19, 2002
Accepted June 14, 2003
DOI 10.1211/0022357022205
ISSN 0961-7671


Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ee Lyn Tan, PhD student

Richard O. Day, professor and head of department of clinical pharmacology and toxicology

Jo-anne E. Brien, Pharmacia chair in clinical pharmacy

Correspondence: Ms Tan, Department of Pharmacy, St Vincent’s Hospital, 390 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst 2010 NSW, Australia.
E-mail: eelyn@mail.usyd.edu.au

Original Papers

Drug and therapeutics committees — are they fulfilling their potential to improve the quality use of medicines?

Ee Lyn Tan, Richard O. Day and Jo-anne E. Brien

Abstract
Objective Drug and therapeutics committees (DTCs) promote the quality use of medicines (QUM). DTC functions have expanded beyond overseeing the hospital formulary. They are in a position to influence prescribing practice, within and beyond the hospital setting into community practice, and it is important to evaluate and augment the quality of their performance. A survey was conducted to document and investigate perceived and ideal DTC principal functions and the level to which DTCs were achieving these.

Method A questionnaire was sent to 300 directors of pharmacy/chief pharmacists in Australian hospitals. Non-responses within two weeks of mail-out were followed-up. Returned questionnaires were anonymised, collated and analysed. The questionnaire asked about the DTC’s functions, the extent to which DTC performance indicators were used, and barriers to the use of these indicators. Respondents were asked for their perceptions of the DTC’s influence on prescribers’ practices.

Key findings The response rate was 73.3% (220) and 127 respondents had an in-house DTC. The final dataset comprised 125 responses (two incomplete questionnaires excluded). The most common principal function of DTCs was “ensuring patient safety” (83.3%). Only 16% of respondents used indicators developed specifically for DTC performance evaluation. Data collected by DTCs were primarily for accreditation. Lack of resources contributed to barriers to indicator data collection. Most respondents (92%) believed that DTCs have some influence on prescribers’ practices.

Conclusion DTCs are seen to be in a position to have an influence on the quality of medicines use. A means to enhance DTC performance can be explored if potential problems in quality are detected. Although there is a desire to use the available indicators, assistance in data collection is needed. Adequate resources and strong leadership may result in more effective DTCs with greater influence on medical practice, leading to better patient outcomes.