Use of Pharmacy Computer Prescription Database to Access Hypertensive Patients for Mailed Survey Research

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the use of a pharmacy computer prescription database (PCPD) to identify and sample hypertensive patients outside of their treatment setting for mailed, self-administered survey research comparing the presence and lack of participation incentives and mailed follow-up reminders.

SETTING:

Two independent, privately owned, free-standing community pharmacies.

PARTICIPANTS:

A total of 735 individuals identified from a PCPD search who had been prescribed at least 1 of 130 PCPD medications potentially used in hypertensive therapy.

METHODS:

PCPD was searched by the pharmacist/owner per protocol; participants were sent an individually addressed cover letter on pharmacy letterhead signed by the pharmacist that requested voluntary anonymous completion of an enclosed self-administered, quality-of-life opinion survey; the first search used no incentive or follow-up; die second search used an incentive and mailed a follow-up reminder. Research protocol followed published ethics guidelines.

RESULTS:

There was a mean 84% return with incentive and follow-up strategies compared with a mean 25% return without strategies (p < 0.01) for all drug groups between searches; no statistical difference in response was shown between the same drug groups (alpha₁-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and centrally acting alpha₂-agonists) within searches.

CONCLUSIONS:

Acceptable response rates (74–93% return) can be obtained with traditional follow-up mailed incentives, prescription issuance within 6 months, incentives to both hypertensive and nonhypertensive responders, and sampling strategies within potential drug groups. Methodology can be adapted to other populations by alternative drug sampling strategies.