PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M Ryan
AU  - B Yule
AU  - C Bond
AU  - R Taylor
TI  - Knowledge of drug costs: a comparison of general practitioners in Scotland and England.
DP  - 1992 Jan 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 6--9
VI  - 42
IP  - 354
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/42/354/6.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/42/354/6.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract1992 Jan 01; 42
AB  - The implementation of drug budgets will make it essential that general practitioners are aware of prescribing costs. A previous study of general practitioners in Scotland found that their knowledge of drug costs was often inaccurate. At the time of the Scottish study, doctors received very limited information on prescribing costs. By contrast, general practitioners in England have been receiving much more detailed information on their prescribing costs since the introduction of PACT (prescribing analyses and cost) in 1988/89. This study examines whether, as a result, doctors in England are more aware of drug costs. The results suggest that they are not; indeed, doctors in Scotland had marginally better knowledge of drug costs. There is a continuing need to improve the cost information available to general practitioners.