POLES APART - THE VIEWS OF GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS AND FAMILY HEALTH-SERVICES AUTHORITY ADVISERS ON PRESCRIBING COST ISSUES

Background. In 1994, an Audit Commission report estimated that pound 4 25 million could be saved from the national drug budget if general pra ctitioners (GPs) altered their prescribing in various ways. Aim. To as sess the views of GPs and family health services authority (FHSA) advi sers on issues similar to those raised in the Audit Commission report. Method. A questionnaire was sent to a 1 in 20 sample of GPs from 33 r andomly selected FHSA areas (n = 576) and all FHSA advisers (n = 285). Results. A total of 419 (72.7%) GPs and 234 (82.1%) advisers replied. There were statistically significant differences (P<0.01) between GPs and advisers on all but one of the statements. In particular, there w ere marked differences on some of the statements relating to substitut ion with cheaper similar drugs. Differences were smaller for statement s on the use of drugs of limited therapeutic value, the range of drugs prescribed, and practice prescribing policies. Differences were noted between subgroups of GPs in response to some of the statements. Concl usion. The majority of GPs in this survey gave responses that were sup portive of many of the types of suggestion made by the Audit Commissio n. However, it is suggested that differences of opinion between GPs an d FHSA advisers may have implications for the development of strategie s to control prescribing costs.