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

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 3