Table 1.
a) Percentage of GP respondents rating each information source as ‘most important’ or ‘important’ in theory. b) Source from which information about the last new drug prescribed was first derived.
| a) Important in theory (n = 108) | b) Source for last ‘new’ drug prescribed (n = 90) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Information source | ‘Old’ drugs | ‘New’ drugs | |
| Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin | 81% | 83% | 0% |
| Medical journal articles | 63% | 77% | 9% |
| Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) | 59% | 60% | 0% |
| British National Formulary (BNF) | 58% | 56% | 0% |
| Non-sponsored clinical meetings | 57% | 63% | 0% |
| Primary care colleagues | 50% | 54% | 7% |
| Consultant/hospital recommendation | 36% | 69% | 36% |
| Pharmaceutical representatives | 26% | 62% | 42% |
| Sponsored meetings | 21% | 44% | 1% |
| Direct mail | 15% | 35% | 1% |
| Journal advertisements | 12% | 24% | 4% |
| Others | ni | ni | ni |
ni = not indicated. Percentages have been rounded.