Evaluation of drug prescription quality indicators in a primary care unit with different models of healthcare

Abstract

Objective: to describe drug prescription indicators in a primary care unit with different models of health care. Methods: this was a descriptive study using secondary data of prescriptions with regard to quality indicators in a health facility that has three health care models: Outpatient Medical Care (OMC), Primary Health Unit (PHU) and Family Health Strategy (FHS) in Vila Nova Jaguar OMC/PHU in Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil, from July to October 2011. Results: 16,720 prescriptions were studied; the proportion of drugs provided through the Municipal Essential Medication List was higher for FHS prescriptions (98.9%), compared to PHU (95.6%) and OMC (95.7%); similarly, both the use of the generic name of the drugs and the proportion of drugs provided was higher among ESF prescriptions (98.9% and 96.1%, respectively), compared with PHU (94.4 % and 92.9%) and OMC (94.0% and 92.7 %). Conclusion: all the prescription indicators show better results for FHS.