Table 1

Clinical priority areas used to measure primary outcomes.

Clinical area
Expected changes in intervention group

Asthma
↓ short acting beta-agonists
↑ long-acting beta-agonists
↑ inhaled corticosteroids (decreased dose of steroids over time i.e. back titration or combinations of LABA & corticosteroids)
Depression
↑ SSRIs, ↑ SNRIs
↓ TCAs;
Hypertension
↑ diuretics
↓ other antihypertensives
Upper respiratory tract infection
↓ antibiotics and ↑ appropriate antibiotics
Immunisation/vaccination
Higher rate of immunization and closer compliance with schedule.
Lipid disorders
↑ Statins,
Type 2 Diabetes
↑ glitazones ↑ metformin
↑ insulin
↓ sulfonylureas
Non-inflamatory musculoskeletal including osteoarthritis
↑ paracetamol
↓ NSAIDs
↓ Cox-2 inhibitors

Coiera et al. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2006 6:33   doi:10.1186/1472-6947-6-33