[Recording of drug prescriptions in medical records. How to improve the quality?].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the evaluation of a program to improve the recording of drug prescribing in medical records.


DESIGN
Experimental study with before and after measurements, without a control group, of the medical files of all patients who consulted during 2 different weeks, 9 months apart.


SETTING
Family Medicine Unit of Centre hospitalier de l'Université Laval.


PARTICIPANTS
Teachers and residents in the Family Medicine Unit.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Proportion of prescriptions for drugs having a systemic effect (n = 206 for week before, n = 257 for week after) for which the following information was recorded: concentration, dosage, quantity prescribed or length of treatment, number of renewals.


RESULTS
After the program, recording frequency increased from 86% to 97% for concentration, 80% to 95% for dosage, 52% to 79% for the quantity prescribed, and 20% to 71% for number of renewals. Both groups of doctors showed a notable improvement, except for the recording of quantity prescribed by residents, which remained stable.


CONCLUSION
We observed an improvement in the recording of drug prescriptions in medical files. The program had a greater effect on teachers who had been exposed to activities that are known to be effective in improving recording.