Use of prescription drugs and investigations by doctors in primary care settings in Oman and the UK

Objectives: this audit aimed to investigate the use of prescription drugs and investigations by trainee doctors in primary care settings in oman and the uk. methods: this audit took place between february and april 2015. the medical records of consecutive patients seen by five family medicine trainee doctors at a primary care setting in oman were retrospectively reviewed. these data were compared to those gathered from two trainees at a general practice clinic in the uk as well as an experienced general practitioner (gp) who had practiced in both countries. results: the average number of items prescribed per patient was 1.19,0.43 and 0.24 and the rate of investigations was 20%,21% and 11% for omani trainees,uk trainees and the gp,respectively. conclusion: this audit suggests that family medicine trainees in oman prescribe almost three times as many drugs as trainees in the uk. the findings also point towards an over-investigation of the relatively young omani patient population. © 2016,sultan qaboos university. all rights reserved.