Improving Use of Medicines and Medical Tests in Primary Care

This book is about optimizing the use of medicines and medical tests in primary care. It provides a comprehensive resource for students, researchers, health practitioners and administrators seeking information on how to design, implement, scale-up and build capability for interventions and programs that result in changes in prescribing and medical/diagnostic test ordering by health professionals. 

Drawing on work from Australia, Canada and the United States of America, the book begins with the evidence-base and theoretical frameworks that underpin successful behaviour change programs. It provides details on particular interventions such as clinical audit, academic detailing, choosing wisely and supports for consumers. Real world examples explore the process of designing, implementing and evaluating interventions and the factors that can help and hinder this process. This is a practical text that will be useful to the beginner and more experience program implementation professionals alike.

Lynn Weekes was the founding Managing Director of NPS MedicineWise, an organisation which strives to improve use of medicines. In her role at NPS MedicineWise. Lynn has a strong belief in the need for behaviour change programs to have patient concerns at their heart and relevance for health professionals and a sense of service in their conduct.  Lynn originally trained as a pharmacist, did her undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney, and practiced in community, hospital, policy and research settings. Lynn holds a Masters in Pharmaceutics and a Doctorate in Community Medicine. Her thesis  explored the decision-making function and performance of Drug and Therapeutics Committees. She is also a Non-Executive Director of the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand, and the Return of Unwanted Medicines program  and Chair of the Academic Board of the Australian Health and Science Institute.  Lynn was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to Quality Use of Medicines.