[Control of prescriptions of B-preparations. A registry study of B-preparations in Oslo and Akershus]

In two Norwegian counties all prescriptions for benzodiazepines and analgesics containing codeine were registered over a two month period and the records were subsequently transferred to a database. 93,000 prescriptions were registered, equivalent to this 2.8 millions DDD. The registration showed great variation, both in the doctors' volume of prescribing and their prescribing patterns. 30 doctors of the total of 4,000 were responsible for 13% of the total volume prescribed. We propose that the doctors with unacceptable prescribing rates should be offered a special education program provided by the Norwegian Medical Association. The computer routines of the pharmacies appear to be inadequate for registration and research purposes. In 2% of all the prescriptions the doctors name could not be identified. Thus it seems warranted to use the doctors' identity number on prescriptions for these drugs. A reduction of the number of tablets in the largest packages dispensed should be considered by the authorities. For effective quality control of prescribing, better understanding is needed of the differences in doctors' prescribing patterns.