GPs' opinions of public and industrial information regarding drugs: a cross-sectional study

Background: General Practitioners {GP} in Sweden prescribe more than 50% of all prescriptions. Scientific knowledge on the opinions of GPs regarding drug information has been sparse. Such knowledge could be valuable when designing evidence-based drug information to GPs. GPs' opinions on public- and industry-provided drug information are presented in this article. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was answered by 368 GPs at 97 primary-health care centres {PHCC}. The centres were invited to participate by eight out of 29 drug and therapeutic committees {DTCs}. A multilevel model was used to analyse associations between opinions of GPs regarding drug information and whether the GPs worked in public sector or in a private enterprise, their age, sex, and work experience. PHCC and geographical area were included as random effects. Results: About 85% of the GPs perceived they received too much information from the industry, that the quality of public information was high and useful, and that the main task of public authorities was to increase the GPs' knowledge of drugs. Female GPs valued information from public authorities to a much greater extent than male GPs. Out of the GPs, 93% considered the main task of the industry was to promote sales. Differences between the GPs' opinions between PHCCs were generally more visible than differences between areas. Conclusions: Some kind of incentives could be considered for PHCCs that actively reduce drug promotion from the industry. That female GPs valued information from public authorities to a much greater extent than male GPs should be taken into consideration when designing evidence-based drug information from public authorities to make implementation easier

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Process och produkt 5:e universitetspedagogiska konferensen vid Linköpings universite

A randomized controlled trial comparing two ways of providing evidence-based drug information to GPs

Objective. To investigate whether tailored evidence-based drug information (EBDI) to general practitioners (GPs) can change the proportion of ACE inhibitor prescriptions more effectively than EBDI provided as usual three and six months after the intervention. Design. Randomized controlled trial. Setting. GPs in southern Sweden working at primary health care centres (PHCCs) in seven drug and therapeutic committee areas. Intervention. EBDI tailored to motivational interviewing (MI) technique and focused on the benefit aspect was compared with EBDI provided as usual. Subjects. There were 408 GPs in the intervention group and 583 GPs in the control group. Main outcome measures. Change in proportion of ACE inhibitor prescriptions relative to the sum of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, three and six months after the intervention. Results. The GPs' average proportions of prescribed ACE inhibitors increased in both groups. No statistically significant differences in the change of proportions were found between intervention and control groups. Information was provided to 29% of GPs in both groups. Conclusion. This study could not prove that specially tailored EBDI using MI implements guidelines more effectively than EBDI provided as usual