Objective: Prescribers' expectations of Zuclopethixol Acetate's (ZA) efficacy and tolerability are shaped by clinical experience and organisational culture; however, these expectations may not be consistent with current evidence and best practice.
Methods: Quality improvement project (QIP) through a process audit of ZA prescribing, monitoring and patient outcomes (adverse events) in order to identify issues requiring intervention to align with service standards and practices.
Results: QIP interventions resulted in a statistically significant shift in psychiatrist oversight, identifying high dose ZA with adverse outcomes and cessation of prescribing/administration within the Emergency Department. Clinically significant changes in patterns of prescribing were observed between pre-post intervention audits.
Conclusion: Entrenching an evidence-based QIP approach to clinical practice can effect clinically significant patterns of practice change to improve safe prescribing and drug monitoring.
Keywords: Zuclopenthixol acetate; acuphase; medication; quality improvement; safety.