P rimary care data is suitable for a wide range of applications across academia, medicines regulations and the pharmaceutical industry. An on-line license for GPRD enables access to the full range of raw data in the GPRD Database. It also provides access to a suite of GPRD data tools and applications to facilitate data extraction and research. Basic on-line access includes new specifically designed tools to enable access to data, and further tools, currently under development and planned will be available as additional applications for users:

Hierarchical Dictionaries

Clinical data recorded in primary care are coded using Clinical Terms version 3 terminology (Read Terms). This has been adapted slightly for use in the Vision General Practice Management Software. Read Terms are coded by Read codes which are structured by chapters and hierarchically within chapters. GPRD provides a regularly updated dictionary based upon the Read Terms used within GPRD data. The Medical Browser tool enables users to access this information, browse Terms, and build code lists for use in studies. A mapping between Read Terms and MedDRA is available as a lookup file on request.

Prescribing data within GPRD is coded using the Multilex Product dictionary. A regularly updated drug dictionary based upon the Multilex products used within GPRD data is available. This dictionary includes information on Product Name, Drug Substance(s), strength, formulation and BNF chapter. The Product browser tool enables users to access this information, identify and browse through products, and build code lists for use in studies. A simple mapping (at the drug substance level) to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) systems, is available on request.

Data Access Tools

Patient Definition Tool (Define)

This tool enables users to extract data required for the identification of patients required for a particular study.

Patient Extraction Tool (Extract)

This tool enables users to extract full data for a list of patients in a file.

Patient Filter Tool (Refine)

This tool enables users to extract data to files, based upon a set of codes provided. It will extract data from either the entire database, or from a specified set of files resulting from a PET data extraction.

Data Transformer Tool (Transform)

This utility is supplied to enable users to transform the new format GPRD data into the old format.

Research Tools

Random Sampling*

This tool generates a random sample of patients for further analysis.

Patient Profiles*

This tool provides access to individual patient records in an easy to read format, chronologically listing all events occurring over time to the patient.

Matching Tool*

Enables control patients to be selected to match test case patients, based on factors such as age, sex, practice, index time etc.

Mother-Baby*

Links the records of children to their mothers, allowing the study of inherited conditions, and the effect of factors such as smoking during pregnancy on children

Dosage conversion*

This tool enables the conversion of dosage text into numeric information relating to dose parameters.

* Not yet available through the on-line service