Attitudes of community pharmacists to off-label prescribing of baclofen in Northern France

Background Community pharmacists’ liability is involved when they dispense off-label prescriptions (OLPs). However, their attitudes to off-label prescribing are little known, while in France off-label baclofen use for alcohol dependence is increasing. Objective To determine community pharmacists’ attitudes to off-label prescribing of baclofen. Method A postal questionnaire was sent to 219 community pharmacies in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, France, previously identified as delivering at least five boxes of oral baclofen monthly. The questionnaire examined whether pharmacists delivered baclofen for alcohol dependence, how pharmacists detected off-label prescribing of baclofen, who were the most frequent prescribers (general practitioners or specialists), and pharmacists’ attitudes to OLPs. Results Eighty pharmacies responded (36.5 %). Detection criteria for OLPs were supra-threshold dose (77.3 %) and “off-label” written on prescription (52.5 %). General practitioners were the most frequent prescribers of off-label baclofen. Pharmacists were more likely to refuse to fill prescriptions not marked “off-label” (6.0 %) than correctly marked prescriptions (1.5 %). 85 % of respondents considered they lacked information on off-label use. Conclusion Although community pharmacists felt they were poorly informed on off-label baclofen, the majority nevertheless delivered the drug. Since our survey, off-label baclofen prescribing has been strictly controlled in France. Pharmacists’ current attitudes will need further evaluation.