ANALGESICS - A COMPARISON OF THERAPEUTIC KNOWLEDGE AND INTER-PROFESSIONAL LIAISON BETWEEN GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS AND COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS

The aim of this study was to ascertain general practitioners' (GPs') a nd pharmacists' knowledge of analgesics, to establish professional opi nion on their use, and to assess the extent of pharmacist input into t he prescribing of analgesics. Pharmacists displayed a better knowledge of analgesics than their colleagues in general practice, but had litt le input into the prescribing decisions made by GPs. Pharmacists' know ledge is not being put to best use in contributing to the preparation of practice formularies, and links between these two health profession al groups need to be developed further.