Abstract
BACKGROUND: A small number of studies have used different methodologies to measure primary non-compliance, but they have not established the reasons for patients not cashing their prescriptions. It has been suggested that the number of uncashed prescriptions is a measure of the quality of doctor-patient communication, but this hypothesis remains untested. AIM: To establish the feasibility of obtaining data on a sensitive subject from patients by interview and to seek patients' reasons for not cashing prescriptions using qualitative data. METHOD: Questionnaire administered to 1000 consecutive patients attending surgery, followed by interview with those patients who indicated that they had not cashed the index prescription. RESULTS: The response rate was 93.5%. Twenty-two patients were included in the study. There was wide variation in the number of uncashed prescriptions issued by each doctor (1-13). A total of nine out of 22 patients reported that their medication was cheaper over the counter and obtained it in this way; 13 out of 22 did not obtain their medication. Five patients indicated that cost was a factor in not obtaining their medication. Other factors included the doctor's permission not to cash the prescription, poor understanding of the illness, and the wish to maintain control. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to ask patients about aspects of their behaviour that may indicate, or cause, difficulties in the doctor-patient relationship. Prescribing behaviour varies widely between doctors and, although cost is a factor in determining whether a prescription will be cashed, other variables, such as the patient's desire to maintain control over the illness, may be more important.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Beardon P. H., McGilchrist M. M., McKendrick A. D., McDevitt D. G., MacDonald T. M. Primary non-compliance with prescribed medication in primary care. BMJ. 1993 Oct 2;307(6908):846–848. doi: 10.1136/bmj.307.6908.846. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Begg D. Do patients cash prescriptions? An audit in one practice. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1984 May;34(262):272–274. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Britten N. Patient demand for prescriptions: a view from the other side. Fam Pract. 1994 Mar;11(1):62–66. doi: 10.1093/fampra/11.1.62. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Little P., Williamson I., Warner G., Gould C., Gantley M., Kinmonth A. L. Open randomised trial of prescribing strategies in managing sore throat. BMJ. 1997 Mar 8;314(7082):722–727. doi: 10.1136/bmj.314.7082.722. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rashid A. Do patients cash prescriptions? Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Jan 2;284(6308):24–26. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6308.24. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Waters W. H., Gould N. V., Lunn J. E. Undispensed prescriptions in a mining general practice. Br Med J. 1976 May 1;1(6017):1062–1063. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6017.1062. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wilkin D., Smith A. Explaining variation in general practitioner referrals to hospital. Fam Pract. 1987 Sep;4(3):160–169. doi: 10.1093/fampra/4.3.160. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]