PRESCRIPTION OF NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMA TORY DRUGS AND ADVERSE EFFECT RISK MANAGEMENT - A SURVEY OF 1072 FRENCH GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS

As a group, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) rank first among commonly prescribed drugs for serious adverse reactions. We cond ucted a cross-sectional survey in which 1072 French general practition ers (GPs) were evaluated for their basic pharmacological knowledge and practice of NSAIDs prescription. Results suggest that GPs have insuff icient pharmacological knowledge and provide inedequate management of adverse reaction risk. Well-established risk factors for serious adver se reactions, such as age, are not taken enough into account, and tole rance is not correctely monitored. Drugs allegedly protecting against peptic ulcers are frequently associated but, most of the time, without any relevant justification, such as the patient's risk level or drug' s efficacy. Our findings demonstrate a need for greater information am ong GPs about prescription and tolerance monitoring of NSAIDs.