PRIMARY-CARE PHYSICIANS AND THE COST OF DRUGS - A STUDY OF PRESCRIBING PRACTICES BASED ON RECOGNITION AND INFORMATION-SOURCES

Rapidly inflating health care costs limit patient care, and prescripti on drug costs constitute a major component of this expenditure, This s tudy examines attitudes toward and knowledge of prescription drug cost s of primary care physicians. Access to information about drug costs a nd implications for medical education are also explored. A questionnai re survey was sent to 137 internists, family, and general practitioner s, randomly selected from a list provided by the Ohio State Medical Bo ard, The questionnaire elicited information on demographic characteris tics of respondents, influence of drug costs on prescribing habits, ac tual knowledge of prices of the 20 most commonly used drugs, attitudes toward generic drug use, sources of information on costs, and desire for emphasis on drug costs in medical education. Responding physicians indicated consideration of drug costs in therapeutic decisions, but l acked information and often mode inaccurate assumptions about costs of drugs prescribed. Most felt they could provide better service and red uce costs if information about drug prices was readily available, Most agreed medical education should address drug costs. Drug cost estimat es varied widely;; correct responses ranged from 9% to 53%. No statist ically significant pattern emerged regarding demographics of responden ts or information sources used. Primary care physicians consider drug costs important and realize that cost-effective prescribing may lower health care costs. However, because physician knowledge of drug costs is inadequate and costs are not readily accessible, implications for b etter physician education and improved access are substantial,