Impact of a Free Distribution of Paracetamol to Osteoarthritic Patients on Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) Prescription

Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Reggio Emilia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Osteoarthritis

Treatments: Other: free paracetamol

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02691754

RePara

Details and patient eligibility

About

Paracetamol is recommended as first line treatment for pain control in osteoarthritis, but it is not included in list of drugs than can be prescribed in charge of National Health System by General Practitioners. The hypothesis is that removing this economical barrier the investigators can decrease the prescription of NSAID and of the Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI), often given for gastric bleeding prophylaxis in NSAID chronic users. As secondary outcome, opioids use was also monitored to see.

Aim of the study is to test if allowing prescription of free paracetamol decreases the prescription of NSAID in osteoarthritic patients.

Full description

The trial was conducted in two primary care units of the province of Reggio Emilia. The units have about 34.000 inhabitants. In this units 16 General Practitioners are active, the average beneficiaries per General Practitioner are 1500, about one fourth over 65 years old.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with osteoarthritis assisted by a General Practitioners working in Reggio Emilia Province who agreed to participate in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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16 participants in 2 patient groups

free paracetamol

Experimental group

Description:

the General Practitioners can prescribe paracetamol for free (covered by NHS). Patients can receive monthly dose at the local hospital

Treatment:

Other: free paracetamol

standard drug prescription

No Intervention group

Description:

Paracetamol is not included in the list of drugs than can be prescribed in charge of National Health System by General Practitioners. The General Practitioners can prescribe other drugs or recommend paracetamol payed by the patient (out of pocket) at the chemistry.