OBJECTIVES: To examine the prescribing habits for omeprazole in a veterinary teaching hospital and to evaluate the effect of a clinical audit on omeprazole prescription. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational study with retrospective clinical audit followed by a prospective study. The evaluated data about omeprazole prescription included the dose, frequency and indication. These were assessed according to published guidelines. A seminar about the audit and current guidelines on the use of omeprazole was organised for all members of clinical staff. Prospective data collection was conducted after the seminar. A comparison of the collected data before and after the clinical audit was made. RESULTS: A total of 301 dogs were prescribed omeprazole in the veterinary teaching hospital during the study period (including the retrospective and prospective parts). Complete data were acquired from 240 patients. The prescribed frequency of omeprazole was inappropriate in 23 (16.5%) of the prescriptions in the retrospective section but in only five (5.0%) in the prospective study. Inappropriate indications were reported in 12 (8.6%) patients in the retrospective section and in two patients (2.0%) in the prospective study. Overall inappropriate omeprazole prescription was identified in 34 (24.5%) patients in the retrospective part and in seven (6.9%) patients in the prospective part. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in frequency, indication and overall prescription of omeprazole. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study details the frequency of inappropriate prescription of omeprazole in a veterinary teaching hospital and provides some evidence that dissemination of guidelines based on clinical audit can improve prescribing habits.

School of Veterinary Sciences University of Bristol Bristol BS40 5DU UK

Veterinary Clinic Podebrady Podebrady 29001 Czech Republic

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