title: [Study of prescriptions referred back to a health center].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study referred-back prescriptions, in the areas of source, consumption, cost and information supplied to the family doctor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study of a prospective type.
  
  
  METHODS
  "La Merced" Health Centre, Cádiz.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the reports sent over a two-month period from referral specialists (emergency, second level and hospital) to four consulting rooms at the Health Centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 6,499 on-demand consultations, 241 attended in order to obtain a referred-back prescription (3.74%). Of the total of 241 reports sent back by specialists, 12%, 7.9% and 69.7% did not report on diagnosis, recommended dosage and length of treatment, respectively. 44.8% were short-term treatments. In 47.7% of the referred-back prescription notes, only one prescription was required. Referred-back prescriptions supposed 9% of the prescriptions issued during the period under observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study only measured incidence, therefore underestimating referred-back prescriptions. In 48% of prescriptions, administrative time could have been saved by dispatching the prescription at its place of origin. There was a notable lack of information supplied in the reports, which we interpret as an indirect indicator of poor coordination between different levels of care. When prescription studies are carried out in Primary Care, the prescription profile of the referral specialists must be taken into consideration.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Cádiz.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pérez Fuentes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moratalla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lubián
mesh_terms: D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000191:economics; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D008511:Medicine; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics; D013030:Spain; D013038:Specialization
vernacular_title: Estudio de la prescripción inducida en un centro de salud.