There is currently a paucity of
information on the relationship between
patient ethnicity and prescribing and its
implications for future resource
allocation. The proportions of Asian
patients on practice lists in east London
were estimated by proportional
allocation of census data and by assigning
ethnicity to names; the latter method
was deemed to be more appropriate.
Using linear multiple regression
modelling, a higher rate of prescribing
was demonstrated in general practices
with higher proportions of Asian patients.
Practices with higher proportions of
Asian patients also had higher list sizes
per general practitioner (GP). Our
findings confirmed that the overall drug
prescribing rate was most strongly
associated with the age-sex structure of
the practice population. Lower
prescribing rates were found in training
practices and practices with fewer
patients per principal. Half the variability
in the overall drug prescribing rate was
related to the factors included in our
analysis. Higher rates of prescribing for
patients of Asian origin could reflect
higher morbidity, doctor behaviour or
patient expectation. To date, ethnicity
has not been included in the calculations
for general practice Indicative
Prescribing Amounts (IPAs). It is
suggested that IPAs should be weighted
for patient ethnicity. A higher prescribing
rate could reflect a greater workload
which is consistent with higher
consultation rates among Asian patients.
These need to be taken into account in
General Medical Services (GMS)
negotiations.
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