title: [Factors associated with drug prescription in general practice: a multicenter cross-sectional study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Iatrogenic, environmental and economic consequences of drug prescription are public health issues. This study was designed to identify physician, patient and consultation characteristics that influence drug prescription in general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in general practice from December 2011 to Apri/2012. Bivariate analyses were performed, followed by multivariate analyses based on a mixed model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least one drug was prescribed in 16,626 (80.7%) of 20,600 consultations conducted by 128 practitioner. Apart from the number of health problems managed (OR= 10.6 [8.8; 13.0] if :2 4), independent patient-related factors were female gender (OR= 1.1 [1.0; 1.2]), extreme ages (OR= 1.3 [1.1; 1.5]younger than 4 years, OR= 1.5 [1.3; 1.8] from 5 to 14 years, and OR= 1.3 {1.2; 1.5] older than 60 years vs. between 15 to 29 years), new patients (OR= 0.8 {0. 7; 0.9]), work accident or occupational disease (OR= 0.3 {0.3; 0.4]). For the physician, drug prescription was linked to visits by pharmaceutical representatives (OR = 1.6 [1.2; 2.0] if :2 5 times a week) but not to visits by Public Health Insurance delegates or signature of the contract designed to improve individual practices (CAP/).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Independently of health problems, patient and physician characteristics, including visits by pharmaceutical representatives, influence drug prescription.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Darmon
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belhassen
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quien
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Staccini
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Letrilliart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult