In previous studies, standardized or drug-specific laboratory data have been listed on prescriptions. However, drugspecific laboratory data used as selection criteria differ between facilities, and no previous study has determined whether the way laboratory data are listed improves the quality of prescription audits. Here, selection criteria based on drugspecific laboratory data were created specifically for contraindications and drugs that require careful use in patients with renal insufficiency to determine whether listing drug-specific laboratory data on prescriptions improves the quality of prescription audits. The selection criteria used in this study were primarily those listed in package inserts in the Warnings, Contraindications, and Relative Contraindications sections. Simple, clear criteria were selected. These criteria were incorporated into in-hospital prescriptions, and the number of prescription changes due to prescription inquiries related to laboratory data was recorded. Based on the new selection criteria, drug-specific laboratory values revealed 505 contraindications in 287 of the drugs handled at our hospital, and 75 drugs required caution when used in patients with renal insufficiency. The number of prescription changes due to laboratory value-related prescription inquiries for drugs with changes in the contraindications increased significantly from 0 to 20 over the 6-month period after the change in the laboratory data listings. When laboratory data related to renal function were changed from standardized data to drug-specific data, prescription changes due to prescription inquiries significantly increased from 14 to 42 over the 3-month period. These results show that listing drug-specific laboratory data on prescriptions improves the quality of prescription audits.
