Investigating the impact of a national educational program on patient adherence to osteoporosis medications.

Unlabelled: Interrupted time series analysis (ITS) measured improvements in osteoporosis medication adherence after a national education program. The proportion of patients who were adherent to treatment increased following the program.

Introduction: The NPS MedicineWise osteoporosis program, implemented nationally in 2015-2016 in Australia, sought to improve adherence to osteoporosis medicines using evidence-based multifaceted large-scale educational interventions targeting general practitioners.

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.

Osteoporosis management in Australian general practice: an analysis of current osteoporosis treatment patterns and gaps in practice.

Background: Among Australians aged 50 and over, an estimated 1 in 4 men and 2 in 5 women will experience a minimal trauma fracture during their remaining lifetime. Effective fracture prevention is hindered by substantial undertreatment, even of patients who clearly warrant pharmacological therapy. Poor adherence to osteoporosis treatment is also a leading cause of repeat fractures and hospitalisation.

Combination psychotropic medicine use in older adults and risk of hip fracture.

Older people might be embarrassed to talk about falling as they worry this may be judged as a loss of their ability to live independently. Ask older patients, at least yearly, if they ever feel unsteady on their feet or if they have fallen Consider whether medicines may be contributing to feelings of unsteadiness or falling. Drugs such as benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, particularly if taken together, are associated with a risk of falling and hip fracture Review the patient’s treatment regimen to see if there are drugs that are no longer required.