Utilization of analgesic drugs in office-based ambulatory care: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1980-81.

The purpose of this report is to describe the utilization ‘analgesic drugs in office-based ambulatory care. The report ]bines the 1980 and 1981 findings of the National Ambula­ * y Medical Care Survey, an annual, sample survey of otTice­ based physicians conducted from 1973 through 198I by the National Center for Health Statistics. The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS ) is scheduled to take the tleld again in 19S5and every third year following. The term utilisation is limited to the ordering or providing of an analgesic drug by the otllce-based physician in the course of an office visit. It does not include drugs ordered by phone contact, nor does it attempt to measure ultimate patient compliance with the doctor’s instruction. The drugs described are those classified as Central iVerv­ ous System Drugs: Analgesics and Antipyretics, according to the American Hospital Forrnulary Service Classitlcation System. ] Description centers on drugs of this class that were named by physician respondents in 1980–81. A list of the named analgesics appears in figure 1. Along with all ne}~t analgesics ordered or provided, the physician also recorded continued analgesics if the patient was specifically instructed during the visit to continue the medication. (However, the data base does not distinguish between the new and the continued medication. ) The listed agents appear as brand2 or generic names, depending on the choice made by the physician in ordering the analgesic. They are divided into two subcategories:~