Prescription drug use and self-prescription among resident physicians.
BACKGROUND
Self-prescription is common among practicing physicians, but little is known about the practice among resident physicians.


OBJECTIVE
To determine prescription drug use and self-prescription among US resident physicians.


METHODS
Anonymous mail survey of all resident physicians in 4 US categorical internal medicine training programs in February 1997.


METHODS
Self-reported use of health care services and prescription medications and how they were obtained.


RESULTS
A total of 316 (83%) of 381 residents responded; 244 residents (78%) reported using at least 1 prescription medicine and 162 residents (52%) reported self-prescribing medications. Twenty-five percent of all medications and 42% of self-prescribed medications were obtained from a sample cabinet; 7% of all medications and 11% of self-prescribed medications were obtained directly from a pharmaceutical company representative.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-prescription is common among resident physicians. Although self-prescription is difficult to evaluate, the source of these medications and the lack of oversight of medication use raise questions about the practice.
Christie
J D
JD
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.
Rosen
I M
IM
Bellini
L M
LM
Inglesby
T V
TV
Lindsay
J
J
Alper
A
A
Asch
D A
DA
D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce