Current trends in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in general practice

Questionnaires were sent to 180 randomly selected general medical practitioners in the Auckland area, to determine the source of prescribing information and current drug prescribing pattern in general practice, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Medical journals were the main current source but postgraduate seminars and lectures were the preferred source of prescribing information. Aspirin remains the drug of first choice in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and along with indomethacin, phenylbutazone and prednisone (10 mg daily), considered to be more effective than the newer propionic acid derivatives. Enteric coated aspirin was preferred in the patient with an active peptic ulcer. Almost all of the replying doctors, endeavoured to give their patients an explanation as to the underlying nature of their disease and treatment, but had little confidence that they would comply with the therapeutic instructions.