Objectives: To build and test a model for the collection of computerised retrospective primary care data from the UK, and to assess its quality for use in medical and pharmaceutical research.
Design: Collection and evaluation of sampled retrospective general practice data recording.
Setting: General practices, using the Vision practice management software in the UK.
Main outcome measures: Quality indicators of completeness of data recording.
Results: Initial audit of 236 practices indicated good recording of prescribing in all practices and a high level of completeness of recording of clinical information in many of the practices.
Conclusions: In the group of practices studied, levels of recording were generally assessed to be of sufficient quality to enable a database of quality-evaluated, anonymised primary care records to be created.