For many cardiovascular drugs, GPs' prescriptions predominantly originated from specialists' prescribing. For more reliable attribution of prescription data or prescribing behaviour to either specialists or to GPs, similar studies should be made for other drug groups. Since the extent of repeat prescribing is high, qualitative studies should be made of the appropriateness of chronic medication, initiated by specialists and continued in repeat prescribing by GPs.
We describe here how medical journalists writing for Dutch daily newspapers use experts when dealing with medicines. Two approaches, interviews and content analysis, were used to answer the research questions. Both methods show that journalists can find relevant experts to give them information about various medicines. The pharmacist, however, is not one of them. Furthermore, the content analysis shows that two types of experts can be distinguished: the objective and independent experts who were often cited alone in an article, and the subjective experts who frequently were cited in combination with other experts.
Family magazines can play an important role in the diffusion of medical information and information regarding drugs to a 'lay audience'. We describe what kind of drugs are discussed in the family magazines and which information regarding these drugs is given. Furthermore, we look into the information sources for journalists; special attention is paid to the role of the pharmacist: is (s)he recognized by journalists as one of the experts on drugs? Two approaches were used in order to answer the above described research questions: a content analysis of family magazines and in-depth interviews of journalists. Gynaecological products as well as drugs for the central nervous system receive much attention in family magazines. The kind of information given about drugs is limited. Only part of the publications pays attention to side-effects. Patients asking questions about drugs in response to publications in family magazines know the name of a drug but are rarely informed about other aspects of the therapy, such as side-effects. In the provision of information physicians and medical specialists play an important role as sources of information for journalists. There is, however, until now no role for the pharmacist as a source of information on drugs in family magazines.
Despite our knowledge regarding the efficacy, tolerability and optimal use of drugs, suboptimal prescribing still occurs. In view of all the factors that influence prescribing, this is not surprising. The focus of drug tolerability has changed from 'choosing the best alternative' when a drug is prescribed, to a balanced decision incorporating various different treatments from separate healthcare providers. This article reviews strategies that may influence prescribing behaviour and discusses practical considerations for achieving optimal prescribing in view of tolerability concerns. The patient has a major influence on prescribing and, with the current diversification of healthcare, the patient now controls prescribing behaviour more than ever before. Communication between healthcare providers consequently assumes a vital role. If messages are to be coherent and transferable, it is increasingly important that healthcare workers communicate effectively with one another regarding patients, prescribing patterns, and drug tolerability issues.
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