Differences in prescribing between GPs. Impact of the cooperation with pharmacists and impact of visits from pharmaceutical industry representatives

Abstract

There was a negative correlation between quality of prescribing by solo GPs and frequency of visits by pharmaceutical industry representatives. In day-to-day practice, no measurable effects of the cooperation between solo GP and pharmacist on the quality of prescribing were observed.

Shifts in expectations: Evaluating physicians' perceptions as pharmacists become integrated into family practice

“…These early findings may reflect physicians' traditionally held views of the pharmacists' role and scope of practice. Studies of family physician attitudes toward community pharmacists have shown that family physicians are typically conservative in their view of the pharmacist's role (Holden & Wolfson, 1996;Muijrers et al, 2005). These same studies describe the importance of precisely defining pharmacist responsibilities and that good relationships correlate with a more positive attitude toward pharmacist involvement in providing care to patients.…”

Medication management strategy for older people with polypharmacy in general practice: a qualitative study on prescribing behaviour in primary care

“…Although a few GPs indicated they participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, there seems to be room for improvement as regards embedding these meetings structurally. Because structured meetings with GPs and pharmacists around pharmacotherapy already exist (as in pharmacotherapy audit meetings), 34,35 these seem suitable to embed discussions around patients with complex polypharmacy. Medication reviews with patients can also facilitate medication management, but currently seem not to be structurally performed.…”

Pharmaceutical care and its relationship to prescribing behaviour of general practitioners

“…A number of studies have shown that recommendations and interventions from pharmacists, under controlled circumstances, can lead to an optimisation of drug use and a better prescription policy [23,[30][31][32][33][34]. We also found indications for the existence of this gap in previous research we carried out among general practitioners: also in this study, the quality of prescribing by the general practitioner was not correlated with the general practitioner's attitude towards the pharmacist's role, the way in which general practitioners cooperated with pharmacists, or the quality of the PTAM [35]. The cause of this gap possibly lies in the rather non-committal nature that characterises the present cooperation between general practitioners and pharmacists, both in day-to-day practice and in the PTAM [33,36].…”