title: Ibuprofen versus other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: use in general practice and patient perception.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether ibuprofen was as well-regarded by patients as other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire sent to 1137 consecutive recipients of an NSAID prescription from 21 doctors in six general practices with computerized records. Patient responses were subsequently linked to data held on the practice records.
  
  
  METHODS
  General practices in and around Nottingham, selected to reflect local variations in number of partners, list size, geographical location, deprivation, prescribing burden and prescribing rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unselected patients receiving NSAIDs prescribed for all indications for use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effectiveness of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, possible drug related adverse events, patients' overall satisfaction with ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, factors associated with choice of ibuprofen, drug costs of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main NSAIDs used were ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen. Ibuprofen use ranged from 1.0% of prescriptions in one practice to 69.1% in another. Although ibuprofen was generally prescribed in low doses, it was perceived by patients as being as effective as the other NSAIDs used, even after allowing for severity of the pre-treatment condition. Overall, 50.5% of patients rated their NSAID the best treatment they had received for their condition with no differences between individual drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ibuprofen is as highly regarded as other NSAIDs when used in similar circumstances. Switching patients to ibuprofen may be a realistic way of reducing financial and medical costs associated with NSAIDs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK. cj.hawkey@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seager
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garrud
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maynard
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hawkey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D009288:Naproxen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; D009288:Naproxen; D007052:Ibuprofen