The influence of specialists on prescribing by GPs: A qualitative study

Jane Robertson; Carla J. Treloar; Arn Sprogis; David A. Henry

The influence of specialists on prescribing by GPs: A qualitative study

Jane Robertson^*
, Carla J. Treloar
, Arn Sprogis
, David A. Henry

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate specialists' influence on prescribing by general practitioners. METHOD: A focus group study of 35 GPs. SETTING: 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. DISCUSSION: Interventions to change GPs' prescribing practices should address the importance of specialist influence, and not focus on GPs alone.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	573-576
Number of pages	4
Journal	Australian Family Physician
Volume	32
Issue number	7
Publication status	Published - 2003
Externally published	Yes

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Cite this

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title = "The influence of specialists on prescribing by GPs: A qualitative study",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To investigate specialists' influence on prescribing by general practitioners. METHOD: A focus group study of 35 GPs. SETTING: 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. DISCUSSION: Interventions to change GPs' prescribing practices should address the importance of specialist influence, and not focus on GPs alone.",

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AU - Sprogis, Arn

AU - Henry, David A.

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N2 - OBJECTIVE: To investigate specialists' influence on prescribing by general practitioners. METHOD: A focus group study of 35 GPs. SETTING: 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. DISCUSSION: Interventions to change GPs' prescribing practices should address the importance of specialist influence, and not focus on GPs alone.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To investigate specialists' influence on prescribing by general practitioners. METHOD: A focus group study of 35 GPs. SETTING: 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. DISCUSSION: Interventions to change GPs' prescribing practices should address the importance of specialist influence, and not focus on GPs alone.

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ER -

The influence of specialists on prescribing by GPs: A qualitative study

Abstract

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