No abstract

The DU90% is an inexpensive, flexible, and simple method for assessing the quality of drug prescribing in routine health care. The number of products in the DU90% segment and adherence to prescription guidelines may serve as general quality indicators. The method may be adapted to provide comparative data between PHC centres, hospitals, regions etc. that may be cross-sectional and longitudinal. Other quality criteria, specific for each class of drugs, should complement these general indicators.

We found important ethnic differences in risk factor patterns. On the basis of our findings, Finnish immigrants should fare the worst. Special efforts should be directed at Finns, focusing on diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, and at Mediterraneans on overweight and smoking.

The study shows differences between the intervention and control areas regarding the knowledge and practice of GPs after the intervention. We found changes in knowledge, attitudes and actual practice, the latter being measured by the prescriptions.