A1 Journal article (refereed)
Information Technology, Improved Access, and Use of Prescription Drugs (2024)
Böckerman, P., Kortelainen, M., Laine, L. T., Nurminen, M., & Saxell, T. (2024). Information Technology, Improved Access, and Use of Prescription Drugs. Journal of the European Economic Association, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1093/jeea/jvae034
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Böckerman, Petri; Kortelainen, Mika; Laine, Liisa T; Nurminen, Mikko; Saxell, Tanja
Journal or series: Journal of the European Economic Association
ISSN: 1542-4766
eISSN: 1542-4774
Publication year: 2024
Publication date: 30/04/2024
Volume: Early online
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jeea/jvae034
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Abstract
We estimate the effects of health information technology designed to improve access to medication while limiting overuse through easier prescription renewal and improved information provision. We focus on benzodiazepines, a commonly prescribed class of mental health and insomnia medications, which are highly effective but potentially addictive. We study the staggered rollout of a nationwide electronic prescribing system over four years in Finland and use population-wide, individual-level administrative data sets. We find that e-prescribing increases average benzodiazepine use due to increased prescription renewals. The increase is most pronounced for younger patients. E-prescribing can improve the health of elderly patients and may help to balance the access-overuse trade-off. Without additional monitoring for addiction in place, it may, however, also have unintended health consequences for younger patients, who are more likely to develop mental and behavioral health disorders.
Keywords: prescriptions; information technology; electronic prescriptions; psychopharmaceuticals; sedatives; benzodiazepines; misuse; addiction; young adults; older people
renewal
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2024
Preliminary JUFO rating: 3