title: The influence of specialists on prescribing by GPs. A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate specialists' influence on prescribing by general practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  A focus group study of 35 GPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hunter Urban Division of General Practice, New South Wales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although GPs thought specialists had only a small influence on their prescribing overall, it was substantial in some clinical areas, in complex conditions and conditions seen infrequently. Specialists were seen as authoritative and unbiased. Local specialists were particularly influential. Specialist influence came from seeing how specialists managed patients, clinical meetings, and specific verbal advice. It influenced the prescribing of new drugs, selection of drugs within a class and sometimes changed established prescribing practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions to change GPs' prescribing practices should address the importance of specialist influence, and not focus on GPs alone.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Practice and Population Health, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales. jroberts@mail.newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Carla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Treloar
authors.forename: Arn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sprogis
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D003253:Consultants; D005194:Family Practice; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008511:Medicine; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013038:Specialization