An audit of anti-muscarinic drug use at the State Hospital

AIMS AND METHOD This paper is based on two audits carried out in 1996 and 1998 at The State Hospital, Carstairs. Each audit looked at anti-muscarinic drug use within the hospital, in relation to approved prescribing standards issued in 1996. All patients within the hospital on anti-muscarinic drugs were identified at the time of each audit. These prescriptions were compared with the approved prescribing standards. In the 1998 audit additional information was obtained from the case notes and the consultants, when the approved standards were not met. RESULTS The percentage of patients on regular anti-muscarinic drugs, falling outwith the prescribing standards, reduced between the two audits. However, in 1998 a small number of patients were still outwith the approved prescribing standards set in 1996. CONCLUSIONS An improvement in the prescribing practice of anti-muscarinics occurred following the introduction of prescribing guidelines. However, the guidelines were not fully met in the 1998 audit. This demonstrates the need for further audit and continued monitoring of anti-muscarinic prescription at the State Hospital.