Factors affecting list size of general practitioners and number of drugs prescribed: findings of a recent study.
Using information obtained from a previous in-dept study on primary health care in one Italian region, we examined first the relationship between list size and the socio-professional profile of the doctor and second the relationship between the number of drugs prescribed at each visit and the social characteristics of both doctor and patient. Using the technique of multiple regression, these figures show that: (a) list size depends mainly on age of doctor, place of residence and that the doctor is primarily a general practitioner, i.e. he is not involved in any other medical activity; (b) the doctor's level of prescribing remains virtually constant, unaffected by his own or the patients' characteristics or the particular problem presented by the patient.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011365:Professional Practice Location