[Prescribing drugs by international non-proprietary name: the perception of health and non-health professionals].

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of health professionals and non-health professionals with regard to prescribing drugs by their international non-proprietary name (INN) in the Midi-Pyrénées area, France.

METHODS: We developed a score to assess the perception of the four criteria that make up therapeutic progress: efficacy, safety, convenience and cost for the National Health Insurance. Changes in perception under these criteria were scored between 0 and 10 (0 for no change and 10 for maximal change). The questionnaire was answered by 142 general practitioners, 161 pharmacists and 132 healthy subjects (public).

RESULTS: The median value (first quartile to third quartile) for the perceived change in efficacy was 0 (0-3) for physicians and pharmacists, and 0 (0-0) for the public. The median value for the perceived change in safety was 0 (0-3) for practitioners and pharmacists, and 0 (0-5) for the public. The median value for the perceived change in convenience was 0 (0-6) for practitioners, 5 (0-6) for pharmacists and 0 (0-0) for the public. The median value for the perceived change in cost was 6 (3-8) for practitioners, 8 (5-10) for pharmacists and 10 (6-10) for the public.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that there is generally favourable acceptance of prescribing by INN by those in the health area. However, general practitioners seem to be more reluctant to accept this than pharmacists or the general public.