Aims: In the ambulatory setting of General Practice/Family Medicine, a retrospective, observational study was carried out to ascertain variation on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescription, in an informatics environment where name (brand or chemical), size of package, price and the existence of generic medicines is available.
Methods: Observational transversal study conducted in February 2008 with no prescription study warning given to the doctors in the study period. The differences in volume prescription in Daily Defined Dose (DDD) per registered patient in the middle of 2006 and 2007 two semesters, as well as the value of prescription measured by the price per registered patient were calculated and medicines were studied by the third level of the Portuguese medicines classification very similar to the ATC. The price per DDD was calculated as well.
Results: DDD volume and value declined throughout the study comparing entire years or semesters being "Oxicans" the only exception. Even though, the net volume and value decreased between 2006 and 2007 comparing both semesters of 2006 and of 2007. Price per DDD decreased for all medicines except for oxicans with an increase from the first to the second semesters of 2007.
Conclusions: Informatics environment influences the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, reducing the number of DDD and the price per registered patient.