title: Use of Prescription Drugs and Investigations by Doctors in Primary Care Settings in Oman and the UK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This audit aimed to investigate the use of prescription drugs and investigations by trainee doctors in primary care settings in Oman and the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  This audit took place between February and April 2015. The medical records of consecutive patients seen by five family medicine trainee doctors at a primary care setting in Oman were retrospectively reviewed. These data were compared to those gathered from two trainees at a general practice clinic in the UK as well as an experienced general practitioner (GP) who had practiced in both countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average number of items prescribed per patient was 1.19, 0.43 and 0.24 and the rate of investigations was 20%, 21% and 11% for Omani trainees, UK trainees and the GP, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This audit suggests that family medicine trainees in Oman prescribe almost three times as many drugs as trainees in the UK. The findings also point towards an over-investigation of the relatively young Omani patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine & Public Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davidson
keywords: Health Resources; Oman; Prescriptions; Primary Health Care; United Kingdom