C. Cutts

Uptake of new drugs in rural and urban areas of Queensland, Australia: the example of COX-2 inhibitors

ObjectiveThis study compared the changes over time in the volume of prescriptions of COX-2 selective inhibitors between rural and urban Queensland to reveal any difference in the uptake of the prescribing of these new drugs between two geographically distinct areas.MethodsThis study used data from an administrative claims database. Dispensing data were obtained for celecoxib and rofecoxib in two areas, one rural and one urban, defined by postcodes. The numbers of consumers in these areas were similar and they were served by similar numbers of general practitioners. The number of defined daily doses (DDDs) of celecoxib and rofecoxib dispensed at specific times was calculated.ResultsStatistical analysis revealed no significant difference between the total numbers of DDDs of COX-2-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs dispensed in the rural and urban groups over the period August 2000 to December 2002 (P=0.81). The rate of uptake of usage was also clearly similar between the urban and the rural groups. Total usage peaked in August 2000 in both groups (urban 39 DDD/1,000 people per day; rural 37 DDD/1,000 people per day), coinciding with the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (subsidized) listing of celecoxib. The number of DDDs declined dramatically in the following month, and then peaked again in May 2002 (urban 34, rural 36). The number of DDDs then steadily decreased in both areas after October 2002.ConclusionThe results suggest that the marketing of the new COX-2 inhibitors and the patients’ anticipation of a safe and effective treatment have overcome the geographical boundaries of Queensland. Both areas had very high rates of uptake of the prescribing of these new drugs.

Motivations and perceived influences on rural and urban general practitioners when prescribing conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or COX-2 inhibitors

Background and objective:  Prescribers in rural and remote locations perceive that there are different influences on their prescribing compared with those experienced by urban prescribers. The aim of this study was to compare the motivations and perceived influences on general practitioners (GPs) when prescribing COX‐2 inhibitors rather than conventional non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) between rural and urban‐based GPs in Queensland, Australia.

Audit of selective and non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in rural general practice

Aim: To identify the demographics and risk factors in a selected patient population prescribed non‐selective and cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) selective non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).