survey of multiple prescriptions dispensed in Saudi Arabia

A study of out-patient prescriptions in King Fahad Hospital, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia was undertaken. Prescribing patterns of 200 doctors were surveyed. For each doctor ten out-patient prescriptions were randomly selected for analysis during month of January 2000. The prescriptions were coded and analysed. Multivitamins and antibiotics were the drugs most frequently prescribed: a finding that suggests either a high degree of malnutrition and infectious disease or misuse of those drugs. Other commonly prescribed drugs are also discussed