title: Anti-rheumatic drug-prescribing behaviour of Australasian rheumatologists 1984-1994.
abstract: The prescribing behaviour of Australian and New Zealand rheumatologists was studied in 1994 using a questionnaire, and the results compared with a similar questionnaire administered in 1984. Perceived differences in efficacy and toxicity for disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and cytotoxics were reported. Over the decade, methotrexate and sulphasalazine have become the most commonly used anti-rheumatic agents, and methotrexate is clearly seen as the most effective drug. Wide variations in monitoring practices for DMARDs were reported, highlighting the need for cost-effectiveness studies on monitoring. There was low usage of functional outcome measurements in assessing patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of New South Wales, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Conaghan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crotty
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012219:Rheumatology