USC Study Looks at Doctors’ Drug Prescribing Practices
A new report by University of Southern California researchers found that while physicians might favor certain medications and prescribe them more often, they are not averse to trying new therapies. The report, which was published in the American Journal of Managed Care, also found that prescribing fewer drugs has "modest effects" on patient adherence and out-of-pocket costs. For the study, researchers analyzed medical and pharmaceutical claims data from 2005 to 2007 from 29 large employers for information about the 10 most prescribed therapeutic classes of medications.
- "Docs Have Preferred Drugs but Will Prescribe Others: Study" (Robeznieks, Modern Physician, 1/3).