[Generic drug prescription at discharge from a hospital emergency service].
OBJECTIVE
Drug prescription at hospital discharge often implies continuation of the treatment in primary health care. The aim of this study was to assess prescription of generics at discharge from a hospital emergency service.


METHODS
Longitudinal and retrospective study, on a random sample of medical reports in a hospital emergency service during one year (August 2000 to July 2001). Information on the medical specialty, prescribed generic drugs and marked availability of the corresponding generic drugs pharmaceutical specialties was collected. Factors associated with generic prescription were analyzed by means of logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
A sample of 1,245 medical reports was selected in which 2,315 drugs were prescribed. Although generic drugs were available for 33.3% (CI 95%, 31.4-35.2) of prescriptions, 9.5% (95% CI, 8.3-10.7) of prescribed drugs were generics. The average price of trademark prescribed medicines, for which there was a generic equivalent, was 7.09 Euros (95% CI, 6.54-7.63 Euros), and that of the corresponding generic versions was 5.08 Euros (95% CI, 4.68-5.48 Euros). Variables associated with generic drug prescription included the particular study period (OR=1.35; 95% CI, 0.99-1.84), the medical specialty of the prescriber (OR=1.40; 95% CI, 1.05-1.86), availability of generic drugs (OR=1.76; 95% CI, 1.30-2.39) and low price of prescribed drugs (OR=2.67; 95% CI, 1.80-3.98).


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of the availability of generic drugs, prescription of generic drugs at discharge of this hospital emergency service was low. Prescription and use of generic drugs should be promoted in hospitals.
Vallano
Antoni
A
Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Fundació Institut Català de Farmacologia, Barcelona, España.
Fortuny
Joan
J
Arnau
Josep Maria
JM
Laporte
Joan-Ramon
JR
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain
D016568:Drugs, Generic