Physician Attitudes Toward the Rhode Island Duplicate Prescription Law and Self-Reported Prescribing Practices for Schedule Ii Medications

Abstract

AbstractxThis cross-sectional study examines prescriber attitudes about the Rhode Island multiple copy prescription program (MCPP) and associations between prescriber characteristics and attitudes about the law. A questionnaire was mailed to 3,016 prescribers registered to prescribe Schedule-II (C-II) medications in 1990-1991. the target population included 2724 medical and osteopathic physicians, 211 dentists, 33 podiatrists, and 48 veterinarians, and the response rate was 22%. Measures consisted of Likert scaled items regarding knowledge and attitudes toward the MCPP, and perceived effects on prescribing habits. Three-fourths of prescribers indicated that a therapeutic alternative is a reason to not prescribe a C-II medication; one-third reported that they preferred to prescribe drugs other than C-II even when a C-II medication is clearly indicated. Practitioners who reported that their prescribing was influenced by the MCPP were more likely to be male, but did not differ in terms of age, specialty, MD ...