[Induced drug prescription in oncology patients]

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).

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.

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.