COMPASS > COMPASS Prescribing Report > The Prescribing Data

The COMPASS prescribing reports are produced from data that are captured by the Central Services Agency (CSA) from dispensed prescriptions. Prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, dispensing doctors, appliance contractors, oxygen concentrator contractors and GPs who personally administer items, such as vaccinations, are submitted to the CSA each month for pricing and reimbursement.   

CSA capture the following data from the dispensed prescriptions:

• Name, strength and form of the drug dispensed
• Quantity of the drug dispensed
• Cost of the drug dispensed
• The month and year in which the drug was dispensed
• The prescriber (GP, Practice, Area Health Board)

The following data are not captured and as a result the data do not give a complete picture of prescribing:

• Patient information, i.e. age, sex, name or address
• Dosage or duration of treatment
• The indication for which the drug was prescribed

The drug data are aggregated using a combination of the BNF classification code and a CSA drug code.  The BNF code is a seven digit code that identifies the BNF chapter, section, paragraph and sub-paragraph to which the drug belongs.  The CSA code is a seven digit code - the first five digits identify the drug and the last two digits identify the preparation.

Using these drug codes data can be analysed at a number of levels:

• Preparation level using CSA code (bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg vs 5mg)
• Individual drug level using CSA code (bendroflumethiazide)
• BNF subsections using BNF code (Thiazide diuretics)
• BNF sections using BNF code (Diuretics)
• BNF chapters using BNF code (Cardiovascular System)

Using the BNF code it is not possible to select a number of drug groups, for example:

• Combination drugs - share the same BNF code with single ingredient drugs
• Modified release (m/r) drugs - share the same BNF code with conventional drugs
• Benzodiazepines - share the same BNF code with other non-benzodiazepine agents
• Inhaled preparations - share the same BNF code with tablets, syrups etc.

These drug groups can be selected using the CSA code.  However, the greater the number of drugs involved the more cumbersome this becomes.  Therefore, the RPIU has devised an additional code which identifes these drug groups and can be used in conjunction with the BNF and CSA codes to analyse the data for groups such as:

• Inhaled bronchodilators versus inhaled corticosteroids
• m/r NSAIDs
• Benzodiazepines

These data can be presented for individual GPs, a single practice, a locality group, an area health board and NI as a whole.