[Induced drug prescription in oncology patients].

AIM

To study drug prescription generated by cancer patients treated at the Emergency Service (ES) of the Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO) in their Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A descriptive prospective study has been carried out with patients treated and discharged from the ES of the IVO in November (n=207) and December (n=239) of 2001. 446 patients were treated and discharged; one out of five patients was contacted by telephone 48 hours after discharge to confirm drug prescriptions from the ES. In November, drug prescription was based on brand-name products, while, in December, generic drugs were prescribed. All patients were discharged with a detailed report that included: patient's medical records, consultation reason, physical exploration performed, diagnostic test results, discharge diagnosis and prescribed treatment. When a brand-name drug was prescribed, the majority of patients received the same product at the PHCC (92.5%), while the rest of them received the same active drug with a different brand name. When a generic drug was prescribed, patients received a prescription for the same active substance at the PHCC in 98% of cases (46% generic drug and 54% brand-name). As to length of treatment, 96% were short treatments (less than 2 weeks), while the rest of them were on-going. 80% needed one prescription; 15%, two, and 5% three or more prescriptions. In terms of therapeutic groups, the most commonly prescribed drugs were anti-infectious, analgesics, digestive-metabolism, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological and miscellaneous.

CONCLUSIONS

1. There is a high level of induced drug prescription at PHCC in cancer patients, since primary care physicians usually maintain active substances prescribed by the ES of IVO, with few variations. 2. Promoting a good relationship between Hospital Care and Primary Health Care Centres helps control and reduce pharmaceutical costs. 3. A high correlation can be found between most frequently prescribed drugs in oncological patients and non-oncological patients seen in Primary Health Care.