[The prescription of intramuscular injectable drugs: a comparative study]

To find out the personal characteristics of patients who receive intra-muscular medication. To examine those illnesses where this treatment is used. To compare the number of intra-muscular treatments prescribed with the nature of the medication, according to a model of Primary Care and to the doctors training.

We are dealing with an observational study, in which a questionnaire was used to find patients' characteristics and the prescription given. SITE. The present study was carried out in the Ibiza Health Centre and two old-fashioned out-patient clinics in our Health Area.

The population under study consisted of all those patients above the age of 7 who received intramuscular treatment during the period of the study (October, November and December, 1990).

There were no interventions, as this was an observational study.

The intra-muscular method of administration was used more in women, people over 50 and those with a very low cultural level. The majority of patients (59.66%) believed that this method was superior to enteric treatments. This method was more often used in out-patient clinics than in the Health Centre (p < 0.01). In the Health Centre less medication treating the Locomotive System (p < 0.001) and more dealing with the Centre Nervous System (p < 0.02) was prescribed. In out-patient clinics more antibiotics, either in combination with each other or with other products, were prescribed (p < 0.01).

In the Health Centre the intra-muscular method was used less. Additionally, a smaller proportion of the medication given was intrinsically useless or of unacceptably low value.