Electronic prescription renewal procedures – an interview study among Finnish primary care physicians

Background Renewing prescriptions is inevitable in long-term medication. The aim of this study was to investigate the procedures for renewing electronic prescriptions and monitoring medication during the renewal process at health centres. In addition, the physicians’ opinions on the prolonged validity of prescriptions and patients’ submitted requests to renew an electronic prescription via My Kanta were examined.

Methods Thirty-one thematic interviews were conducted among physicians in Finnish health centres during winter 2018.

Results There were no common guidelines for renewal procedures. The monitoring of patients’ medication during the renewal process varied depending on the physician. Monitoring primarily concerned central nervous system and narcotic medicines, as well as cardiovascular medicines. Particular attention was paid to medication prescribed to elderly patients and patients with polypharmacy. Medication was assessed more thoroughly if the physician did not know the patient. Physicians considered most of the recent changes to prescription procedures to be positive, but at the same time mentioned some problems.

Conclusions Health centres should consider establishing common guidelines for renewing prescriptions. Common guidelines should be considered on both the national and the organisational level. There is a need to further improve the availability of up-to-date data on patients’ medication so that it can be fully utilized in renewing prescriptions and medication monitoring.