Prescribing attitudes of different physician groups regarding fluoxetine.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the attitudes and prescribing patterns of family medicine and psychiatric physicians regarding fluoxetine.


METHODS
A three-part questionnaire was distributed to the Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry. The survey included topics associated with fluoxetine use that have received broad professional attention, such as drug-induced suicidal and aggressive behavior.


METHODS
The Family Practice Medical Group and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida.


METHODS
Mailing lists from both above departments were used to distribute surveys to residents, fellows, and attending/faculty members of each department. Eighty-seven surveys were mailed.


METHODS
Survey questions were divided into three sections to help determine current attitudes of prescribing fluoxetine: eight short cases, 16 statements, and demographic data.


RESULTS
The return rate was 69 percent following a mailing and a hand-delivered copy. Responses were dichotomized to agree or disagree and were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. Psychiatrists were much more likely than family practitioners to prescribe fluoxetine for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and more likely to prescribe for a patient with a history of substance abuse or seizure disorder. Psychiatrists were more aware of safety issues; however, drug-interaction knowledge was weak in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Family practitioners, being the most predominant of medical specialists, appeared equally comfortable with prescribing fluoxetine in most circumstances compared with psychiatrists. However, there is a need for pharmacists to provide up-to-date drug information on fluoxetine to all healthcare professionals.
Levin
G M
GM
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Albany College of Pharmacy, Union University, NY 12208.
DeVane
C L
CL
D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011570:Psychiatry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005473:Fluoxetine