Analysis and review of more than 7 million prescriptions in medical institutions in Beijing from 2020 to 2022(Part 1): Oncology treatment medicine
Prescription rationality in oncology treatment is improving for traditional Chinese medicine but remains problematic for some modern medicines like Goserelin.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the goserelin corpusSummary and findings
The study analyzed over 7 million outpatient prescriptions in Beijing from 2020 to 2022, focusing on oncology treatment medicines. It found that the proportion of modern medicine prescriptions increased while traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions decreased. The irrationality rate of prescriptions fluctuated, with some drugs like Goserelin showing no improvement in rational use.
Abstract
Abstract Aim To analyze prescription review results in Beijing and to provide references for improving prescription rationality. Methods This study included outpatient prescriptions which were randomly extracted in Beijing from 2020 to 2022. Drug names were used as search keywords. The changes in prescriptions number and irrationality rate over the past three years were analyzed. Drugs associated with irrational prescriptions were sampled and the reasons for their irrational use were analyzed. Results Approximately 1.9 million prescriptions were sampled for 2020-2021, and more than 4 million prescriptions were sampled for 2022. The proportion of Modern medicine (abbreviated medicine) prescriptions of oncology treatment gradually increased while the proportion of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) prescriptions gradually decreased from 2020 to 2022. The irrationality rate of medicine prescriptions briefly decreased in 2021 before increasing again in 2022. The irrationality rate of TCM prescriptions gradually decreased, and the average irrationality rate of medicine prescriptions was higher than that of TCM. Notably, the rationality of several drugs didn’t improve over the past three years, which included fluorouracil (injection), lobaplatin，bleomycin，Goserelin Acetate Sustained-release Depot ，Pabolizumab，vaginal preparations of recombinant human interferon. Conclusion Prescription review can improve prescription rationality and systematically identify off-label drug use, becoming an important way to expand drug clinical use and improve drug regulatory policies. The use of TCM in oncology treatment is becoming more rational, while the rational use of medicine still needs to be improved. Doctors should regulate their prescribing behavior and strive to increase the rationality of prescriptions.
Background
This study addresses the issue of prescription rationality in oncology treatment within Beijing's medical institutions. Prior to this study, there was limited large-scale data on prescription practices for oncology drugs in this region. Understanding prescription trends and irrational use is crucial for improving drug regulation and patient safety.
Methods
The study employed an observational design, analyzing outpatient prescriptions randomly extracted from medical institutions in Beijing from 2020 to 2022. Drug names were used as search keywords to identify relevant prescriptions. The primary outcomes were the number of prescriptions and the rate of irrational prescriptions over the three-year period.
Results
The study sampled approximately 1.9 million prescriptions for 2020-2021 and more than 4 million for 2022. It observed an increase in the proportion of modern medicine prescriptions for oncology treatment, while traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions decreased. The irrationality rate of medicine prescriptions decreased in 2021 but increased again in 2022, with the average irrationality rate of medicine prescriptions being higher than that of traditional Chinese medicine.
Interpretation
The findings suggest a shift towards modern medicine in oncology treatment, but highlight ongoing issues with prescription rationality. The lack of improvement in rational use for certain drugs, including Goserelin, indicates a need for better regulatory oversight and prescriber education. While the study provides valuable insights, its observational nature limits the ability to infer causality or clinical outcomes.
Key findings
- 1.9 million prescriptions sampled for 2020-2021.
- More than 4 million prescriptions sampled for 2022.
- Proportion of modern medicine prescriptions for oncology increased from 2020 to 2022.
- Irrationality rate of medicine prescriptions decreased in 2021 but increased in 2022.
- Average irrationality rate of medicine prescriptions higher than TCM.
Limitations
- Observational study design
- No detailed patient demographic data
- Focus on prescription data, not clinical outcomes
- Single geographic location: Beijing
- No intervention or control group