BACKGROUND: Generic losartan provides an opportunity to enhance angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) prescribing efficiency, with all ARBs essentially being similar. Initially, there was limited activity in NHS Bury (UK). This changed in March 2011 with therapeutic switching and other measures encouraging the prescribing of losartan following generics to enhance its utilization versus patented ARBs. AIM: This study aims to assess the impact of multiple measures on losartan utilization, its price and total ARB expenditure. METHODS: An interrupted time series analysis was performed. Utilization was measured as prescription items dispensed, typically 28 days. RESULTS: No immediate change in losartan utilization was observed following generics. This changed after the multiple initiatives with losartan accounting for 65% of all single ARB items dispensed by the study end. ARB expenditure was 59% below prestudy levels by the study end, which was helped by a 92% reduction in expenditure per item for losartan. Annual net savings from the program were estimated at just under GB£290,000, which is over eight-times the cost of implementation. CONCLUSION: Multiple measures can enhance prescribing efficiency. Health authorities cannot rely on a 'spillover' effect from other classes in order to affect changes in physician prescribing habits.
BACKGROUND: Generic losartan provides an opportunity to enhance angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) prescribing efficiency, with all ARBs essentially being similar. Initially, there was limited activity in NHS Bury (UK). This changed in March 2011 with therapeutic switching and other measures encouraging the prescribing of losartan following generics to enhance its utilization versus patented ARBs. AIM: This study aims to assess the impact of multiple measures on losartan utilization, its price and total ARB expenditure. METHODS: An interrupted time series analysis was performed. Utilization was measured as prescription items dispensed, typically 28 days. RESULTS: No immediate change in losartan utilization was observed following generics. This changed after the multiple initiatives with losartan accounting for 65% of all single ARB items dispensed by the study end. ARB expenditure was 59% below prestudy levels by the study end, which was helped by a 92% reduction in expenditure per item for losartan. Annual net savings from the program were estimated at just under GB£290,000, which is over eight-times the cost of implementation. CONCLUSION: Multiple measures can enhance prescribing efficiency. Health authorities cannot rely on a 'spillover' effect from other classes in order to affect changes in physician prescribing habits.
Authors: Brian Godman; Bjorn Wettermark; Menno van Woerkom; Jessica Fraeyman; Samantha Alvarez-Madrazo; Christian Berg; Iain Bishop; Anna Bucsics; Stephen Campbell; Alexander E Finlayson; Jurij Fürst; Kristina Garuoliene; Harald Herholz; Marija Kalaba; Ott Laius; Jutta Piessnegger; Catherine Sermet; Ulrich Schwabe; Vera V Vlahović-Palčevski; Vanda Markovic-Pekovic; Luka Vončina; Kamila Malinowska; Corinne Zara; Lars L Gustafsson Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2014-06-17 Impact factor: 5.810
Authors: Brian Godman; Max Petzold; Kathleen Bennett; Marion Bennie; Anna Bucsics; Alexander E Finlayson; Andrew Martin; Marie Persson; Jutta Piessnegger; Emanuel Raschi; Steven Simoens; Corinne Zara; Corrado Barbui Journal: BMC Med Date: 2014-06-13 Impact factor: 8.775
Authors: James C Moon; Brian Godman; Max Petzold; Samantha Alvarez-Madrazo; Kathleen Bennett; Iain Bishop; Anna Bucsics; Ulrik Hesse; Andrew Martin; Steven Simoens; Corinne Zara; Rickard E Malmström Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2014-10-08 Impact factor: 5.810
Authors: Julius C Mwita; Olayinka O Ogunleye; Adesola Olalekan; Aubrey C Kalungia; Amanj Kurdi; Zikria Saleem; Jacqueline Sneddon; Brian Godman Journal: Int J Gen Med Date: 2021-02-18
Authors: Livia Lovato Pires de Lemos; Augusto Afonso Guerra Júnior; Marisa Santos; Carlos Magliano; Isabela Diniz; Kathiaja Souza; Ramon Gonçalves Pereira; Juliana Alvares; Brian Godman; Marion Bennie; Ivan Ricardo Zimmermann; Vânia Crisitna Canuto Dos Santos; Clarice Alegre Pretramale; Francisco de Assis Acurcio Journal: Pharmacoeconomics Date: 2018-02 Impact factor: 4.981