Introduction Opioid prescribing rates are continuing to increase in Australia in line with prescribing rates seen internationally. Prescribing limits are one policy strategy to reduce short-term opioid prescribing, but there is limited evidence of their impact. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the impact of state and national policy interventions on changes to oxycodone 5 mg discharge prescriptions in public hospitals using electronic prescribing in Queensland, Australia by evaluating the proportion of oxycodone 5 mg discharge prescriptions written for ≤ 10 tablets across the study period. Method This research utilised a retrospective uncontrolled interrupted time-series design and was undertaken at 12 public hospitals using electronic prescribing from December 2018 to February 2021. The study analysed the impact of two sequential policy interventions that limited the recommended quantity of oxycodone 5 mg on discharge for all hospitalised patients. The first state-wide policy came into effect on 19 September 2019 and the second national policy came into effect on 1 June 2020. Results Over the 27-month period, there were 110,728 discharge prescriptions written in the 12 Queensland hospitals for oxycodone 5 mg. During the baseline period, approximately 50.7% (95% CI 49.5–51.8) of all oxycodone 5 mg prescriptions were from tablet quantities of ≤ 10 tablets. After the implementation of the state-wide policy, the proportion increased by 9% (95% CI 7.4–10.7; p = 0.001). The implementation of the national policy increased the proportion of oxycodone 5 mg prescriptions written for ≤10 tablets by 9.8% (95% CI 8.1–11.5; p < 0.001). Conclusions Restrictive prescribing policies at a state and national level may have resulted in decreased quantities of oxycodone 5 mg prescriptions provided on discharge from public hospitals using electronic prescribing in Queensland, Australia. Despite these positive results, continued multi-faceted policy efforts and individual tailored interventions are necessary to ensure safe and judicious opioid prescribing.

Objective To evaluate antipsychotic prescribing in people with dementia or delirium admitted to a large regional Queensland hospital. Methods A retrospective observational study analysing medical records of patients prescribed antipsychotics over 6 months. Results We audited a sample of 141 patients, 65 years or over (over 45 years for indigenous peoples) with dementia or delirium, without severe mental illness, prescribed antipsychotics. Over a third (35%) were prescribed antipsychotics prior to admission, with 73% prescribed a new antipsychotic in hospital. Only 23% received documented review of antipsychotic therapy. Under half (48%) had evidence of non‐pharmacological interventions as first‐line management. Sixty‐eight patients (48%) were discharged with antipsychotics; however, only 4% were provided an antipsychotic management plan. Conclusions Initiation and continuation of antipsychotics in patients with dementia or delirium in hospital is common, with infrequent review. There is significant potential to reduce prescribing antipsychotics in people admitted to hospital with dementia or delirium.

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