Changing trends in South Wales fluoride prescription dispensing (1993-7).
OBJECTIVE
To observe patterns of fluoride preparation dispensing by primary care practitioners in a health authority.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
The Prescription Pricing Agency of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority (WHCSA).


METHODS
Individuals who had exchanged a prescription for a fluoride preparation at a pharmacy in Bro Taf Health Authority in the six months from 1 January 1997 to 30 June 1997.


METHODS
Information from each prescription including a fluoride preparation, passed to WHCSA from pharmacists during the study, was entered onto a database, including the prescriber's postcode and profession, the recipient's postcode and product information. Numbers of dental prescriptions were correlated to local levels of NHS primary dental care provision and caries prevalence data. Comparisons were made with a similar study undertaken in 1993.


RESULTS
415 dentists' prescriptions were dispensed within the area, of which 38.8% originated from five dentists. At least one prescription had been made by 89 of the 253 local primary dental care providers (35%). Within the area monitored in both 1993 and 1997, dental prescribing rates had almost halved. Of the 122 doctors' prescriptions that were dispensed over the six-month period, 98 were mouthwash preparations for adult patients and four were for children.


CONCLUSIONS
NHS provision of fluoride supplementation was low and remained related to prescribing patterns of individuals rather than to evidence on local variations in dental caries prevalence.
Hillman
L
L
French
A D
AD
Treasure
E
E
D000328:Adult; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D013218:State Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014852:Wales
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides