Drug prescription goals in primary care: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Care goals are often implicit, although their identification is a key element of any prescription process. This study aimed to describe the clinical goals of drug prescriptions in general practice, their determinants and the agreement between physicians and patients. METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study conducted by 11 resident trainees acting as observers in 23 general practices. The residents recorded the indication and main physician's goal for all drugs prescribed during five consultation days in each practice in December 2015, and the main patient's goal for a sub-sample of consultations. We used an eight-category generic classification of prescription goals, including three specific (mortality, morbidity and cure), three non-specific (symptoms, quality of life, functio

SUBMITTER: Bernard L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6941394 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature