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Table 1 Rural-urban prescription percentages of behavioral health drug classes and other medications by primary care specialty and provider type, with 95% CI

From: Rural-urban prescribing patterns by primary care and behavioral health providers in older adults with serious mental illness

Urban Areas

PCP MD

PCP APRN

PCP PA

PCP Other

BHS MD

BHS APRN

BHS Other

Behavioral Medications

 Anti-anxiety drugs

51.42 (51.37-51.48)

7.58 (7.55-7.6)

3.25 (3.23-3.27)

0.13 (0.13-0.14)

20.92 (20.9-20.9)

3.11 (3.1-3.13)

0.49 (0.48-0.49)

 Anti-depressants

57.09 (57.07-57.11)

6.84 (6.83-6.85)

3.32 (3.31-3.32)

0.12 (0.12-0.13)

16.8 (16.7-16.8)

2.5 (2.5-2.51)

0.43 (0.43-0.43)

 Anti-psychotics

36.41 (36.36-36.46)

6.11 (6.09-6.14)

2.67 (2.65-2.69)

0.16 (0.16-0.16)

33.99 (33.9-34.1)

5.88 (5.85-5.91)

0.82 (0.81-0.83)

 Hypnotics

55.22 (55.13-55.31)

6.02 (5.98-6.06)

3.08 (3.05-3.11)

0.09 (0.09-0.1)

18.7 (18.6-18.7)

2.03 (2.01-2.06)

0.31 (0.3-0.32)

 Anti-convulsants

47.77 (47.74-47.81)

7.2 (7.19-7.22)

3.39 (3.38-3.41)

0.12 (0.12-0.13)

13.3 (13.2-13.4)

2.09 (2.08-2.1)

0.34 (0.34-0.34)

Other Medications

58.98 (58.97-58.99)

7.18 (7.18-7.19)

3.64 (3.63-3.64)

0.09 (0.09-0.09)

0.28 (0.28-0.28)

0.03 (0.03-0.03)

0.004 (0.004-0.004)

Rural Areas

PCP MD

PCP APRN

PCP PA

PCP Other

BHS MD

BHS APRN

BHS Other

Behavioral Medications

 Anti-anxiety drugs

57.16 (57.04-57.29)

13.37 (13.28-13.46)

4.89 (4.84-4.95)

0.2 (0.19-0.22)

12.16 (12.1-12.2)

3.59 (3.54-3.63)

0.3 (0.29-0.31)

 Anti-depressants

61.24 (61.18-61.29)

12.65 (12.61-12.69)

5.14 (5.12-5.17)

0.16 (0.16-0.17)

9.45 (9.4-9.5)

2.89 (2.88-2.91)

0.26 (0.26-0.27)

 Anti-psychotics

47.04 (46.91-47.18)

9.12 (9.04-9.19)

3.95 (3.9-4)

0.15 (0.14-0.16)

22.76 (22.6-22.9)

7.53 (7.46-7.6)

0.62 (0.6-0.64)

 Hypnotics

59.2 (58.95-59.44)

12.71 (12.55-12.88)

4.92 (4.81-5.03)

0.2 (0.18-0.22)

10.16 (10.1-10.3)

2.73 (2.65-2.81)

0.33 (0.3-0.36)

 Anti-convulsants

56.19 (56.1-56.27)

11.77 (11.72-11.83)

4.47 (4.43-4.51)

0.17 (0.16-0.18)

7.64 (7.6-7.7)

2.27 (2.24-2.29)

0.22 (0.21-0.23)

Other Medications

62.14 (62.12-62.17)

12.99 (12.97-13)

5.18 (5.17-5.19)

0.14 (0.14-0.14)

0.21 (0.21-0.21)

0.05 (0.05-0.05)

0.01 (0.01-0.01)

  1. 1) Abbreviations: PCP MD: Primary care provider physician; PCP APRN: Primary care provider advanced practice registered nurses; Primary care provider physician assistant; Behavioral health specialist physician, Behavioral health specialist advanced practice registered nurse
  2. 2) Row percent do not add up to 100 because other clinician specialties are not shown
  3. 3) Specialty and provider type were identified using taxonomy codes from the prescriber characteristics file
  4. 4) All urban/rural differences significant at p <0.001
  5. 5) PAs do not subspecialize and are identified within PCP only
  6. 6) Other PCP providers included certified nurse midwifes, certified clinical nurse specialists. Other BHS included certified nurse specialists in mental health. Other providers (not shown) included dentists, psychologist, certified nurse anesthetists. Other specialties included for example, sports medicine, emergency medicine, gynecology etc
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BMC Health Services Research

ISSN: 1472-6963

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