Inappropriate continuation of stress ulcer prophylaxis beyond the intensive care setting.

Objective: To determine how frequently stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) medications prescribed in the intensive care unit are inappropriately continued on the ward and on hospital discharge.

Design: Retrospective cohort study; chart review.

Setting: Two Australian ICUs: one tertiary centre and one metropolitan centre.

Treatment goals: health care improvement through setting and measuring patient-centred outcomes.

Objective: To determine how frequently stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) medications prescribed in the intensive care unit are inappropriately continued on the ward and on hospital discharge.

Design: Retrospective cohort study; chart review.

Setting: Two Australian ICUs: one tertiary centre and one metropolitan centre.

A therapeutic equivalence program: evidence-based promotion of more efficient use of medicines.

Objective: The development of an effective therapeutic equivalence program (TEP) through the collaborative support of medical staff, using the principles of disinvestment.

Design And Setting: A TEP was introduced at Southern Health, a metropolitan health service in Melbourne, in the 2006-07 financial year. Therapeutic classes were selected for the TEP by stakeholder consensus, and a preferred medication for each class was selected on the basis of cost considerations and therapeutic equivalence.