Changes in the prescription of anticholinergic drugs (1970-1977) in a state hospital.

A study of the prescribing patterns of physicians in a state hospital during 1970-1977 revealed a four-fold drop in the use of combinations of drugs with strong anticholinergic properties. This dramatic shift to more rational practices stands in contrast to reports of persistent inappropriate prescribing in other settings. The time pattern of the changes suggests that an active ongoing educational program combined with a drug monitoring system providing feedback to physicians was primarily responsible for the findings. This study clearly documents the fact that physicians' prescribing patterns are amenable to change in the direction of more appropriate practices.