Prescription Drug Use and Self-prescription Among Resident Physicians
- Jason D. Christie, MD;
- Ilene M. Rosen, MD;
- Lisa M. Bellini, MD;
- Thomas V. Inglesby, MD;
- Jane Lindsay, MD;
- Alys Alper, MD;
- David A. Asch, MD, MBA
- From the Department of Medicine (Drs Christie, Rosen, Bellini, and Asch), the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (Dr Asch), and the Center for Bioethics (Dr Asch), University of Pennsylvania, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Drs Christie, Rosen, Bellini, and Asch), Philadelphia, Pa; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (Dr Inglesby); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (Dr Lindsay); and the Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La (Dr Alper).
Abstract
Context.— Self-prescription is common among practicing physicians, but little is known about the practice among resident physicians.
Objective.— To determine prescription drug use and self-prescription among US resident physicians.
Design and Setting.— Anonymous mail survey of all resident physicians in 4 US categorical internal medicine training programs in February 1997.
Main Outcome Measures.— Self-reported use of health care services and prescription medications and how they were obtained.
Results.— A total of 316 (83%) of 381 residents responded; 244 residents (78%) reported using at least 1 prescription medicine and 162 residents (52%) reported self-prescribing medications. Twenty-five percent of all medications and 42% of self-prescribed medications were obtained from a sample cabinet; 7% of all medications and 11% of self-prescribed medications were obtained directly from a pharmaceutical company representative.
Conclusions.— Self-prescription is common among resident physicians. Although self-prescription is difficult to evaluate, the source of these medications and the lack of oversight of medication use raise questions about the practice.
