Dispensed Five or More Unique Long-Term Medicines

Identifying Attributes

Care Settings
Primary Care
Country
New Zealand
Publishing Organisation
Health Quality & Safety Commission
Type of Quality Indicator
Process
IOM Quality Dimension
Safety
Domain
Medications and Medication Management

Defining Attributes

Definition

People aged 65 years and over dispensed five or more unique long-term medicines.

Numerator

Average number of people in a quarter. Age at end of quarter ≥ 65 years. Number of distinct chemicals (excluding those below) dispensed in quarter that were also dispensed in previous quarter = 5 or more.

Denominator

New Zealand population, using Stats NZ population projections for the relevant years.

Exclusions

Therapeutic group 1: dermatologicals, Therapeutic group 1: special foods, Therapeutic group 1: sensory organs, Therapeutic group 1, section C – extemporaneously compounded preparations and galenicals, Therapeutic group 2: respiratory devices, Therapeutic group 2: unknown (eg, header rows, named patient authority), Therapeutic group 2: various (eg, brand switch fee), Therapeutic group 2: diabetes management: ketone testing, blood glucose testing, insulin syringes and needles, insulin pumps, insulin pump consumables.

Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
Stratifications

By year: 2012-2019, Ethnicity: Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian, European/Other Age (years) 65-74, 75-84, 85+, Sex: F, M

Collection and Reporting Attributes

Type of Data Collection
Administrative data
Data Collection Methods

Pharmaceutical Collection

Frequency of Data Collection
Annually
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
365
Reporting Methods

New Zealand Atlas of Healthcare Variation

Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No

Source and Reference Attributes

Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
No
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025