Bayesian structural time series, an alternative to interrupted time series in the right circumstances.

Objectives: Compare two approaches to analyzing time series data-interrupted time series with segmented regression (ITS-SR) and Bayesian structural time series using the CausalImpact R package (BSTS-CI)-highlighting advantages, disadvantages, and implementation considerations.

Study Design And Setting: We analyzed electronic health records using each approach to estimate the antibiotic prescribing reduction associated with an educational program delivered to Australian primary care physicians between 2012 and 2017. Two outcomes were considered: antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and antibiotics of specified formulations.

Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination in Reducing Subsequent Antibiotic Prescribing in Young Children Attending Australian General Practices-A Case-Control Study.

Background: Vaccination against influenza may reduce antibiotic use, but data are limited and imprecise.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study using deidentified data from a large national primary care database to evaluate antibiotic prescribing changes following influenza vaccination in children 1-4 years old attending primary care in the Australian 2018 and 2019 influenza seasons. Cases were prescribed β-lactam or macrolide antibiotics during the influenza season and controls were not.

Characteristics of patients aged 50–74 years with a request for an immunochemical faecal occult blood test in the Australian general practice setting.

Objective To support improving participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), we aimed to identify Medicare-subsidised test requests for immunochemical faecal occult blood tests (FOBT) in Australian general practice for patients aged 50-74 years, eligible for the NBCSP, and describe sociodemographics, risk factors, indications and outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using de-identified data from 441 Australian general practice sites in the MedicineInsight database, recorded from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019. Results Of the 683 625 eligible patients, 45 771 (6.

Patterns of real-world opioid prescribing in Australian general practice (2013-18).

Little is known about private-market opioid prescribing and how Australian opioid policies impact prescribing across public and private markets in Australia. We aimed to investigate publicly subsidised and private-market opioid prescribing from 2013 to 2018. We used prescribing records from MedicineInsight, an Australian primary care database, to examine trends in prescriptions for non-injectable opioid formulations from October 2013 to September 2018.

The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Background And Aim: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the characteristics of patients prescribed direct acting antiviral (DAA) medicines have changed since initial listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from MedicineInsight, an Australian database of general practice electronic health records, from March 2016 to August 2018. We compared sociodemographic, comorbidity, and clinical characteristics of patients aged at least 18 years who were prescribed at least one DAA in the first 4 months of PBS listing in 2016 with those prescribed at least one DAA in 2018.

Pregabalin prescribing patterns in Australian general practice, 2012-2018: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In 2013 pregabalin was subsidised by Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for neuropathic pain. Since the subsidy, pregabalin prescribing has been increasing in Australia and so has related harm. There are concerns it is being prescribed for indications other than neuropathic pain, which have little evidence of efficacy.

Impact of NPS MedicineWise general practitioner education programs and Choosing Wisely Australia recommendations on prescribing of proton pump inhibitors in Australia.

Background: This study evaluated the impact of multifaceted NPS MedicineWise programs that targeted all general practitioners (GPs) in Australia in 2009 and 2015 with the aim of reducing unnecessary prescribing of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and encouraged stepping down to a lower strength PPI or to discontinue treatment. The 2015 intervention coincided with the release of Choosing Wisely Australia recommendations from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Methods: Outcome measures included monthly dispensing rates of different strength PPIs prescribed by GPs to concessional patients in Australia.

Prevalence, incidence and management of atopic dermatitis in Australian general practice using routinely collected data from MedicineInsight.

Background/objectives: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has increased significantly in industrialised countries in recent decades but data about the incidence or prevalence of AD in Australia are sparse. We aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of AD among patients seen in Australian general practice and the use of specified medicines.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 2.

A national intervention to reduce imaging for low back pain by general practitioners: a retrospective economic program evaluation using Medicare Benefits Schedule data.

Background: The overuse of diagnostic imaging for low back pain (LBP) in Australia results in unnecessary cost to the health system and, for patients, avoidable exposure to radiation. The 2013 NPS MedicineWise LBP program aimed to reduce unnecessary diagnostic imaging for non-specific acute LBP in the Australian primary care setting. The LBP program delivered referral pattern feedback, a decision support tool and patient information to 19,997 (60%) of registered Australian general practitioners (GPs).

NPS MedicineWise: 20 years of change.

The cost and potential harms of medicines and other health technologies are issues of concern for governments and third party payers of health care. Various means have been demonstrated to promote appropriate evidence-based use of these technologies as a way to reduce waste and unintended variation. Since 1998, Australia has had a national organisation responsible for large scale programs to address safe, effective and cost effective use of health technologies.

Relationship between antimicrobial-resistance programs and antibiotic dispensing for upper respiratory tract infection: An analysis of Australian data between 2004 and 2015.

Objective NPS MedicineWise aims to ensure that medicines are prescribed and used in a manner consistent with current evidence-based best practice. A series of nationwide educational and advertising interventions for general practitioners and consumers were implemented in Australia between 2009 and 2015 with the aim of reducing antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). The work described in this paper quantifies the change in antibiotic dispensing following these interventions.