Rice N, Dixon P, Lloyd DC, Roberts D. Derivation of a needs based capitation formula for allocating prescribing budgets to health authorities and primary care groups in England: regression analysis. BMJ 2000;320:284.
Baines DL, Parry DJ. Analysis of the ability of the new needs adjustment formula to improve the setting of weighted capitation prescribing budgets in English general practice. BMJ 2000;320:288.
The first of these articles explains the development of a weighted capitation formula, which has been used as the basis for setting the prescribing budgets for health authorities and PCGs for 1999-2000. The second analyses how effective the formula is in achieving improvements.
Avery AJ, Wetzals RV, Rodgers S, O'Neill C. Do GPs working in practice with high or low prescribing costs have different views on prescribing cost issues? Br J Gen Prac 2000;50:100.
This study used questionnaires to assess whether GPs working in high prescribing cost practices had different views from those working in low cost prescribing practices with respect to prescribing issues. GPs were asked to agree or disagree with themes from the Audit Commission report. The most significant finding for prescribing advisers and those looking to implement cost control initiatives is that high cost prescribing practices were less amenable to substitution of cheaper alternatives within some therapeutic categories.
Mackenzie IF, Buckingham K, Wankowski JM, Wilcock M. Morbidity, deprivation and antidepressant prescribing in general practice. Br J Gen Prac 1999;49:884.
A significant correlation between prevalence of permanent sickness in the area served by a GP practice and rates of prescribing daily defined doses (DDDs) of antidepressants was found. The authors suggest that the outcomes should be used to inform discussions with practices and to provide an evidence base for increased allocations for antidepressants in the prescribing budgets of appropriate practices.
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.