Prescription drug use and self-prescription among training physicians.

A lthough guidelines suggest physicians should not treat themselves, the self-prescription of medications is common. Self-prescription among physicians in training is of particular concern, given their limited clinical experience and high levels of work stress. In the only large multicenter study conducted to date, to our knowledge,Christie et al found that self-prescribing iswidespread, with 52% of residents self-prescribing medications during their training. Importantly, the most common sources of self-prescribed medications were sample cabinets (42%) and pharmaceutical representatives (11%). In the 13 years since the publication of this study there has been substantial change in the relationship between residency programs and pharmaceutical companies. Thus, it is important to reassess the rates of self-prescription among physicians in training.