A SURVEY OF PHYSICIAN KNOWLEDGE OF DRUG COSTS

Previous studies have indicated that physicians have inadequate knowle dge of drug costs. This study was designed to determine actual pharmac y prices of 12 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and physi cians' knowledge of these prices. Pharmacists (N = 67) in a large urba n area were surveyed to determine the lowest retail prim of commonly p rescribed medications. Pain clinic and orthopedic physicians (N = 95) were surveyed to determine their knowledge of prices for 12 NSAIDs. Th ere was wide variation between pharmacies in the cost of medications. Eighty-one percent of physicians agreed that cost is an important fact or to consider Only 25% of physicians estimated at least one-half of t he medications between the highest and lowest pharmacy price. The resu lts of this study indicate that physicians need more information about prices of medications they prescribe.