Abstract
Purpose
To compare family paediatricians’ and general practitioners’ habits on drug prescribing to children.
Methods
Prescriptions reimbursed by the Health Service and dispensed by the retail pharmacies of 15 local health units in the Lombardy Region of Italy during 2005 were analysed. Only family paediatricians and general practitioners who were in charge of children aged 6–13 years were included.
Results
During 2005, 239,296 children (43.6% of the selected population) received at least one drug prescription. The prevalence was higher in children treated by general practitioners (44.2 versus 43.4%), in particular in children 13 years old, with a prevalence of 38.7 versus 31.8% in children cared for by general practitioners and family paediatricians respectively. The prevalence of the most prescribed therapeutic classes was similar in the two groups. Some differences were found concerning the antibiotic classes, with family paediatricians prescribing penicillins more frequently and general practioners prescribing macrolides and cephalosporins more frequently. A total of 542 drugs were prescribed, 78% of which were prescribed by both the family paediatricians and the general practitioners. In all, only four drugs were prescribed by 75% or more physicians. The chance of receiving a drug prescription, adjusted for age, gender and local health unit of residence, was slightly higher in children cared for by general practitioners (OR 1.16; 95%CI 1.14–1.17).
Conclusions
Few differences were found between the prescribing patterns of family paediatricians and those of general practitioners. Differences exist in particular for older children and for some drug classes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cazzato T, Pandolfini C, Campi R, Bonati M, The ACP Puglia-Basilicata Working Group (2001) Drug prescribing in out-patient children in southern Italy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 57:611–616
Clavenna A, Berti A, Gualandi L, Rossi E, De Rosa M, Bonati M (2009) Drug utilisation profile in the Italian paediatric population. Eur J Pediatr 168:173–180
Borgnolo G, Simon G, Francescutti C, Lattuada L, Zanier L (2001) Antibiotic prescription in Italian children: a population-based study in Friuli Venezia Giulia, north-east Italy. Acta Paediatr 90:1316–1320
Resi D, Milandri M (2003) Antibiotic prescriptions in children. J Antimicrob Chemother 52:282–286
Gagliotti C, Morsillo F, Resi D, Milandri M, Moro ML (2005) A three-year population-based study of antibiotic treatments for children. Acta Paediatr 94:1502–1504
Rossignoli A, Clavenna A, Bonati M (2007) Antibiotic prescription and prevalence rate in the outpatient paediatric population: analysis of surveys published during 2000–2005. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 63:1099–1106
Clavenna A, Rossi E, Berti A et al (2003) Inappropriate use of anti-asthmatic drugs in the Italian paediatric population. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 59:565–569
Sun HL, Kao YH, Chou MC, Lu TH, Lue KH (2006) Differences in the prescription patterns of anti-asthmatic medications for children by paediatricians, family physicians and physicians of other specialties. J Formos Med Assoc 105:277–283
Akici A, Kalaca S, Ugurlu MU, Oktay S (2004) Prescribing habits of general practitioners in the treatment of childhood respiratory-tract infections. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 60:211–216
Quach C, Collet JP, LeLorier J (2004) Acute otitis media in children: a retrospective analysis of physician prescribing patterns. Br J Clin Pharmacol 57:500–505
Rushton JL, Clark SJ, Freed GL (2000) Paediatrician and family physician prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Pediatrics 105:E82
Pradier C, Rotily M, Cavailler et al (1999) Factors related to the prescription of antibiotics for young children with viral pharyngitis by general practitioners and family paediatricians in southeastern France. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 18:510–514
Bocquet A, Chalumeau M, Bollotte D, Escano G, Langue J, Virey B (2005) Comparison of prescriptions by paediatricians and general practitioners: a population-based study in Franche-Comté from the database of Regional Health Insurance Fund. Arch Pediatr 12:1688–1696
Mazzaglia G, Caputi AP, Rossi A et al (2003) Exploring patient- and doctor-related variables associated with antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections in primary care. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 59:651–657
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) (2003) Diagnosis and management of childhood otitis media in primary care. A national clinical guideline. SIGN, Edinburgh
American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Management of Acute Otitis Media (2004) Diagnosis and management of acute otitis media. Pediatrics 113:1451–1465
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) (1999) Management of sore throat and indication for tonsillectomy. A national clinical guideline. SIGN, Edinburgh
Pandolfini C, Campi R, Clavenna A, Cazzato T, Bonati M (2005) Italian family paediatricians and off-label prescriptions: loyal to regulatory or guideline standards. Acta Paediatr 94:753–757
Acknowledgements
Antonio Clavenna holds an educational fellowship granted by Boehringer Ingelheim Italia. The authors would like to acknowledge Dr Angela Bortolotti, Dr Luca Merlino and Dr Ida Fortino, of the Regional Health Ministry - Lombardy Region, Milan, for providing data. This study has been funded in part by the Lombardy Region Health Ministry (Progetto “Epidemiologia dei farmaci - EPIFARM”)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Clavenna, A., Sequi, M. & Bonati, M. Differences in the drug prescriptions to children by Italian paediatricians and general practitioners. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 66, 519–524 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0786-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0786-5