Irrational drug use in India: a prescription survey from Goa.
J Postgrad Med
;
2005 Jan-Mar; 51(1): 9-12
Artigo
em Inglês
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-115329
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
There is concern regarding the irrational production, prescription and use of drugs in India. This study aimed to describe the quality of prescriptions by medical practitioners, including both the layout of the prescription and the type and number of drugs prescribed. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
A survey of all prescriptions dispensed at a busy pharmacy in the state of Goa, India, was carried out over a consecutive seven-day period. Each prescription was rated on the basis of a priori and pilot-tested variable list. The prescriptions by private practitioners were compared with those from practitioners in the public healthcare system.RESULTS:
Nine hundred and ninety prescriptions were collected. The majority (83.9%) were from private practitioners. The quality of the layout of the prescriptions was unsatisfactory information to identify the practitioner was incomplete in more than a third of the prescriptions and information to identify the patient was incomplete in more than half. Clarity of written instructions on how to take the medicines was unsatisfactory in the majority of prescriptions. Polypharmacy was the norm, with more than half (52.7%) the prescriptions containing at least 3 medicines. Forty per cent of prescriptions included a vitamin or tonic preparation and a quarter of the prescriptions included an antibiotic and an analgesic. Over 90% of prescriptions contained only branded medicines. Private practitioners prescribed significantly greater number of medicines and were more likely to prescribe vitamins and antibiotics, and branded medicines.DISCUSSION:
This study confirms that the quality of prescriptions, both in terms of layout and the content of the drugs prescribed, is inadequate. There is a need to standardize the format of prescriptions in India so that all essential information is included. There is a need to strengthen an independent mechanism for continuing professional development of practitioners to ensure that patients are always given evidence-based, cost-effective treatments.
Texto completo:
DisponíveL
Índice:
IMSEAR (Sudeste Asiático)
Assunto principal:
Prescrições de Medicamentos
/
Redação
/
Padrões de Prática Médica
/
Humanos
/
Educação de Pacientes como Assunto
/
Estudos Transversais
/
Índia
/
Erros de Medicação
Tipo de estudo:
Estudo observacional
/
Estudo de prevalência
/
Estudo prognóstico
/
Fatores de risco
País/Região como assunto:
Ásia
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
J Postgrad Med
Ano de publicação:
2005
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
Similares
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS