[Determining factors of the quality of prescription measured in intrinsic value and its potential use].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the following factors-medical training in family practice, age of the doctor, health care organization and percentage of patients over 65 years--influence the quality of pharmaceutical prescription as measured in terms of its intrinsic value and potential use of the prescription.


METHODS
Descriptive cross study. SITE. Regional health authorities of Costa de Ponent. Barcelona.


METHODS
400 general practitioners throughout the whole of 1992.


RESULTS
Doctors belonging to the new health system and specialising in family practise, present higher intrinsic value and potential use of the prescription (statistically confirmed), as well as a greater concentration of prescription of the top 100 prescribed medicines. Doctors no more than 40 years old had better prescription but no statistical differences were found. An aged population had nearly no influence.


CONCLUSIONS
The characteristics of the doctor (organization, training) are conditioning factors in the quality of pharmaceutical prescription.
Torralba Guirao
M
M
Monteserin Nadal
R
R
González Ares
J A
JA
Morera Castell
R
R
Calero García
M I
MI
Serrasolsas Doménech
R M
RM
Mota Vidal
C L
CL
Pujol Ribo
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011786:Quality Control; D013030:Spain
Factores condicionantes de la calidad de la prescripción, medida en valor intrínseco y grado potencial de uso.