[The prescription of intramuscular injectable drugs: a comparative study].
OBJECTIVE
To find out the personal characteristics of patients who receive intra-muscular medication. To examine those illnesses where this treatment is used. To compare the number of intra-muscular treatments prescribed with the nature of the medication, according to a model of Primary Care and to the doctors training.


METHODS
We are dealing with an observational study, in which a questionnaire was used to find patients' characteristics and the prescription given. SITE. The present study was carried out in the Ibiza Health Centre and two old-fashioned out-patient clinics in our Health Area.


METHODS
The population under study consisted of all those patients above the age of 7 who received intramuscular treatment during the period of the study (October, November and December, 1990).


METHODS
There were no interventions, as this was an observational study.


RESULTS
The intra-muscular method of administration was used more in women, people over 50 and those with a very low cultural level. The majority of patients (59.66%) believed that this method was superior to enteric treatments. This method was more often used in out-patient clinics than in the Health Centre (p < 0.01). In the Health Centre less medication treating the Locomotive System (p < 0.001) and more dealing with the Centre Nervous System (p < 0.02) was prescribed. In out-patient clinics more antibiotics, either in combination with each other or with other products, were prescribed (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In the Health Centre the intra-muscular method was used less. Additionally, a smaller proportion of the medication given was intrinsically useless or of unacceptably low value.
Cabedo García
V R
VR
Centro de Salud Ca'n Misses, Ibiza, Baleares.
Serra Roig
A
A
Vaquer Vadell
A
A
Cantos Escudero
R
R
Minuesa González
E
E
Arce Juan
T
T
García Ibáñez
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
La prescripción de inyectables por vía intramuscular: estudio comparativo.