Determinants of prescribing costs amongst single-handed general practitioners
Gill PS., Roalfe A.
Objective: To investigate the contribution of patient and doctor characteristics in explaining observed variations in prescribing costs between individual doctors. Method: Secondary analysis of data collected from general practitioners, Family Health Services Authorities, 1991 Census data set and the Prescription Pricing Authority. Results: A multiple regression model with four variables (social class, training status, generic prescribing and length of time in general practice) explained only 16 5% of the variation in costs/ASTRO-PU. Conclusion: This study highlights that very little of the variation in prescribing costs can readily be explained. Further research is needed to document contributing factors.