[Prescription of a hematopoietic growth factor, lenograstim, in current practice. Results and commentaries of a national survey from April 1995 to March 1996].
OBJECTIVES: The French drug authorities audited first-time prescription of hematopoietic growth factors using a prescription follow-up survey. Data collected between April 1995 and March 1996 were analyzed then criticized by three clinical experts working in three different areas where lenograstime is most widely used. METHODS: First-time prescription data and follow-up information were recorded on separate inclusion and follow-up diaries by the prescribing physicians. The delivering pharmacies complete the diaries and addressed them to the INSERM unit 330 for analysis. RESULTS: There were 7,102 inclusion diaries and 1376 follow-up diaries from 234 different hospital facilities. Lenograstime was most frequently prescribed in patients with lymphoma (19%), breast cancer (16.4%), and lung cancer (13.8%). Prescriptions involved 377 different chemotherapy protocols, including 196 which concerned a single patient. At the first prescription, lenograstime was given as a preventive measure in 61% of the cases and for curative therapy in 25.3%. The planned duration of preventive treatment was longer than the true period of treatment. DISCUSSION: Pr Rossi, hematologist, Pr Misset, cancerologist and Pr Lebeau, pneumologist criticized the findings.