Using comparators to make your reports more meaningful

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The problem with national comparisons

We understand that not all patient populations are the same and therefore it can be difficult to compare your or your practice’s prescribing to national prescribing levels.

The development of comparator prescribers and practices

To help combat this problem and make these reports more relevant to you, we have developed comparator groups. This allows your or your practice’s prescribing to be compared to ten prescribers or practices from across New Zealand whose patient populations are similar to yours in:

• Age
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Deprivation (practices only)

We will account for the size of your patient population by using proportions or standardised formats e.g. prescribing per 1,000 patients or practice population

Eliminating the demographic differences mean you will be able to more easily determine genuine differences in your prescribing practices compared with your comparators.

Further investigation of your prescribing

Undertaking an audit or peer group discussion may provide more detail to help identify similarities and differences in prescribing practice compared to other primary care practitioners. If any issues have been identified these resources can help instigate change, leading to more appropriate use of medicines and facilitation of best practice.

See: www.bpac.org.nz/audits and www.bpac.org.nz/PeerGroupDiscussions for further details.