Background Interactive 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. Methods Prescribers 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. Results Nine 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. Conclusions GPs 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.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/8-67#

CMC is funded by a Health Research Board Clinician Scientist Fellowship Award (CSF- 2023-012). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

Ethical approval was granted by the Irish College of General Practitioner Research Ethics Committee, 7th October 2024, ICGP_REC_2024_ 2502. All participants gave fully informed written consent.

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Transcripts are not available as participants were not asked for consent for sharing them.