[Evaluation of drug prescription in the primary care clinic in Geneva in 1997].
BACKGROUND
The analysis of drug prescription in a primary care clinic is a useful tool to evaluate the quality of medical care provided to outpatients.


METHODS
We analysed drug prescriptions of the first consultations with 701 patients attending between May 14 and June 6 1997, and compared this data to previous surveys conducted in 1988, 1991 and 1993.


CONCLUSIONS
The three most common diagnoses were hypertension, lumbar pain and diabetes. The prescription of non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) increased from 7.1% in 1988 to 20% in 1997. For acute lumbar pain physicians prescribed NSAID to 58% of patients and paracetamol only to 33%. Further, doctors often prescribed muscle relaxants although an additional antalgic effect has not been proven. The prescription of psychotropic drugs decreased from 22.5% in 1988 to 12.7% in 1997. ACE inhibitors and calcium antagonists were the most frequently prescribed antihypertensive drugs. Therefore physicians do not follow the American (JNC VI) and our institutional guidelines, which recommend beta-blockers and diuretics as first line agents.
Antonini Revaz
S
S
Département de médecine communautaire, Policlinique de médecine de Genève.
Morabia
A
A
Goehring
C
C
Stalder
H
H
D000082:Acetaminophen; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D013557:Switzerland
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen