The effect of a warning about putative adverse events on drug prescribing in general practice

Many studies have looked at factors influencing doctors' prescribing. None have done this during a time when prescribers have been just made aware of potential serious adverse events that might be caused by a commonly prescribed medication. A controversy over the safety of Fenoterol (Boehringer Ingelheim) in 1989 provided an opportunity for such a study in general practice. Practitioners were exposed to conflicting and changing views from authoritative sources, patient concerns raised by the coverage of the issue in the news media, and a need to maintain patients on effective therapy. The study demonstrated that the majority of general practitioners would act promptly and conservatively when faced with uncertainty about the safety of the medication they prescribed.