Table 2 Australian datasets (stand-alone or linked) available to quantify low-value prescribing practices
Dataset | Variables of interest |
|---|---|
Medicines prescribed in the community | Â |
Dispensing Dataset: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) dispensing claims. Available 2005 to current Custodian: Australian Government Department of Human Services | Item number, date of prescribing and dispensing service, patient co-payment, cost to government, patient demographics (age, gender, location of residence mapped to Socioeconomic Index and Remoteness classifications), provider location (also mapped), fact of death |
Prescribing Dataset: MedicineInsight. Available 2010 to current Custodian: NPS MedicineWise | Prescribed medicines (date of prescribing; prescribed daily dose; indication for prescribing), test ordering (date of request, results), patient demographics (age, gender, location of residence mapped to Socioeconomic Index and Remoteness classifications), patient past medical and family history, referrals, management plans, immunisations, provider location (also mapped) |
Datasets to which PBS dispensing data will be linked | |
Tests, procedures and outpatient consultations Dataset: Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) service claims. Available 2004 to 2013 Custodian: Australian Government Department of Veterans Affairs | Item number, date of service, scheduled fee, provider charge, benefits paid, patient co-payment, patient demographics (age, gender, location of residence mapped to Socioeconomic Index and Remoteness classifications), provider location (also mapped) |
Hospitalisations Dataset: NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection Available July 2000 to current Custodian: Director, Demand and Performance Evaluation Branch, NSW Department of Health | Diagnostic and procedure codes, diagnosis-related groups (admission costs), hospital type, separation date and status, geographic location of patient residence and hospital; patient demographics (age, gender, place of residence) |
Emergency department visits Dataset: NSW Emergency Department Data Collection. Available 2005 to current Custodian: Director, Demand and Performance Evaluation Branch, NSW Department of Health | Triage category, diagnostic codes; mode of arrival; hospital type, geographic location of patient residence and hospital, separation date and status, patient demographics (age, gender, place of residence) |
Cancer notifications Dataset: NSW Central Cancer Registry. Available 1994 to current Custodian: Central Cancer Registry NSW | Date of new cancer diagnosis, type of cancer, stage at diagnosis |
Death data Dataset: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW. Available 1994 to current Custodian: Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW | Cause of death, place of death, date of death, decedent demographics (age, gender, place of usual residence) |