Bashford J, Norwood J, Chapman S. Why are patients prescribed proton pump inhibitors? Retrospective analysis of link between morbidity and prescribing in the General Practice Research Database. Br Med J 1983;317:452-6.
[Medline reference]
Although I have only just come across it, this paper supports the view that prescribers sometimes initiate treatment with proton pump inhibitors for minor symptoms of dyspepsia and non-specific abdominal pain. It is one that I have found useful in persuading general practitioners that there is a need to review repeat prescribing in upper gastrointestinal disease and to implement guidelines for prospective management of new patients if we are to avoid continued escalation of prescribing costs in this group of patients.
What's in the medical press? - The rapidly changing situation in primary care means that it is often difficult to keep up to date with what is happening politically and clinically. This section of Primary Care Pharmacy will try to pick out a few articles that may be useful in day-to-day practice or have importance for the primary care role.