Comparison of medication-prescribing patterns for patients in different social groups by a group of doctors in a general practice
Objective This study was designed to compare medication‐prescribing patterns of five general practitioners (GPs) who served patients living in two different communities, one of which is more economically deprived. Method The study focused on cardiovascular and antibiotic prescribing. Practice popula...
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| Published in: | The International journal of pharmacy practice 2005-12, Vol.13 (4), p.241-247 |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | eng |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Objective This study was designed to compare medication‐prescribing patterns of five general practitioners (GPs) who served patients living in two different communities, one of which is more economically deprived.
Method The study focused on cardiovascular and antibiotic prescribing. Practice population data including history of cardiovascular disease and records of medication prescribed were considered with public health and socio‐economic statistics for each community.
Setting The study practice serves 8300 patients in two clinics, Tipton and Gornal, 4 miles apart. Each has similar numbers of registered patients. Tipton is in one of England's most deprived areas, ranked 16 out of 354 in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2004, compared with Gornal which is situated in an area ranked 109.
Key findings For each Tipton patient, mean prescribing costs were 37% higher and mean number of prescription items were 16% higher over the study period compared with Gornal. Although a higher incidence might be expected in Tipton, little difference in identified cardiovascular disease (CVD) was found between Tipton and Gornal, and prescribing rates of aspirin and statins were similar. Tipton patients with CVD were less likely to be prescribed antihypertensives especially calcium channel blockers (P = 0.003) and diuretics (P = 0.02). Tipton patients received on average 3.27 different cardiovascular drugs compared with 3.80 in Gornal (P = 0.004). In those aged 65 years and over, this reduced to 3.08 in Tipton compared with 3.82 in Gornal (P = 0.001). Tipton patients generally, and children specifically, were significantly more likely to receive antibiotic prescriptions (P |
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| ISSN: | 0961-7671 2042-7174 |