Objective: To evaluate a system of qualitative indicators which serve as a tool for prioritising the level of intervention in Base Health Districts (BHDs).
Design: Retrospective, descriptive study.
Setting: Primary Care.
Measurements and main results: Medical prescription dispensed by the doctors from 36 BHDs in the Costa de Ponent (Barcelona) region in 1995 were analysed, with different qualitative indicators used. Three stages of indicators were established. 25% of the BHDs had a %PIV < 75%; 25% of them over 80%; and the rest between 75 and 80%.
Conclusions: The three stages of indicators described contribute different and complementary information to the qualitative prioritising of pharmaceutical prescription. Absence of correlation between the third-stage indicators suggests the importance of choosing them according to the desired pharmacological group and in line with a pre-established criterion for selecting medicines.