Avoiding being the 'busy fool': How general practitioners perceive and engage with a prescribing safety and quality dashboard

BackgroundInteractive dashboards can support safe prescribing but effectiveness depends on user engagement. The research team developed a prescribing safety dashboard, deployed in 27 Irish general practices. Trend graphs tracked prescribing changes (2019-2025) by practices across key metrics. This study explored how GPs engaged with the dashboard and their perceptions of using routine data for prescribing feedback. MethodsPrescribers from participating practices were invited to online interviews (May-August 2025). A think-aloud exercise involved participants verbalising their thoughts while navigating the dashboards, followed by a semi-structured interview exploring views on safe prescribing, feedback and data access. Interviews were recorded, auto-transcribed and manually reviewed for accuracy. Think-aloud data were analysed deductively using a sense-making framework, interviews analysed inductively, and findings triangulated to refine themes. ResultsNine general practitioners (GPs) from eight practices participated. Themes were organised into four categories: (1) Perceptions of open data, (2) Perceptions of feedback, (3) Dashboard engagement, and (4) High-quality prescribing. Most were in favour of open data and transparency but some feared misuse. GPs valued feedback but reported workload as a barrier. Engagement with the dashboard was mainly interpretative, focused on data meaning in the context of their practice. GPs showed a strong emotional dimension to engagement and also described intended actions in response to what they saw. Finally, high-quality prescribing was mainly viewed as avoiding harm. ConclusionsGPs valued and engaged with dashboard feedback but workload competed with time for reflection and action-highlighting the need for practical, streamlined tools and nudges to support engagement. Key messagesO_LIAudit and feedback, such as that delivered through interactive dashboards has a small but significant effect on professional behaviours such as prescribing, but user engagement influences effectiveness. C_LIO_LIIrish GPs engaged with a prescribing safety and quality dashboard in a reflective and contextual way and garnered rich insights on their prescribing. C_LIO_LIGPs valued feedback and showed a strong emotional attachment to their performance, but felt workload competed with time for reflection and action. C_LIO_LIWith advances in data infrastructure, it is possible to provide interactive prescribing feedback in real time. However, the way feedback is designed and delivered plays a crucial role in supporting engagement. Dashboards and related behavioural interventions should be co-designed with prescribers to maximise engagement. C_LI