Prescribing--a case for prolonged treatment.

In an earlier study it was shown that general practitioners changed some of their prescribing habits when they were given detailed analyses of their prescriptions every six months for two years and provided with opportunities to discuss the information with participating colleagues. A follow-up study of the same doctors two years later revealed that most of the effects of the intervention had disappeared, though the increase in generic prescribing persisted. It is concluded that a more sustained intervention is needed to bring about more lasting change.