Rational use of medicines: prescribing indicators at different levels of health care

Authors

  • Maria Beatriz Cardoso Ferreira Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; Basic Science of Health Institute; Department of Pharmacology
  • Isabela Heineck Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; College of Pharmacy; Department of Production and Control of Medicines
  • Liziane Maahs Flores Federal University of Santa Maria; College of Pharmacy; Department of Community Health
  • Aline Lins Camargo University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre; Department of Basic Science of Health
  • Tatiane da Silva Dal Pizzol Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; College of Pharmacy; Department of Production and Control of Medicines
  • Iraci Lucena da Silva Torres Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; Basic Science of Health Institute; Department of Pharmacology
  • Alvaro Koenig University of Region of Joinville; Faculty of Medicine; Department of Medicine
  • Daisson José Trevisol University of South of Santa Catarina; College of Pharmacy; Department of Biological and Health Sciences and of Social Applied Sciences
  • Adriana Mary Mestriner Felipe de Melo University of Grande Dourados; College of Pharmacy
  • Teófilo Fernando Mazon Cardoso Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul; College of Pharmacy
  • Maria Tereza Ferreira Duenhas Monreal Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul; College of Pharmacy
  • Mônica Cristina Toffoli Kadri Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul; College of Pharmacy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-82502013000200015

Keywords:

Medicines^i1^srational, Medicines^i1^sprescript, Health Care^i1^squality indicat, Pharmacy^i1^scommunity servi

Abstract

This multicenter study aimed to investigate prescribing patterns of drugs at different levels of health care delivery in university-affiliated outpatient clinics located in eight cities in the South and Midwest of Brazil. All prescriptions collected were analyzed for various items, including WHO prescribing indicators. A total of 2,411 prescriptions were analyzed, and 469 drugs were identified. The number of drugs prescribed per encounter, the frequency of polypharmacy, and the percentage of encounters with at least one injection or antibiotic prescribed were higher in centers providing primary health care services, compared to those where this type of care is not provided. Most drugs (86.1%) were prescribed by generic name. In centers with primary health care services, drug availability was higher, drugs included in the National and Municipal Lists of Essential Medicines were more frequently prescribed, and patients were given more instructions. However, warnings and non-pharmacological measures were less frequently recommended. This study reveals trends in drug prescribing at different levels of health care delivery in university-affiliated outpatient clinics and indicates possible areas for improvement in prescribing practices.

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Published

2013-06-01

Issue

Vol. 49 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Articles

License

All content of the journal, except where identified, is licensed under a Creative Commons attribution-type BY.

The on line journal has open and free access.

How to Cite

Rational use of medicines: prescribing indicators at different levels of health care . (2013). Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 49(2), 329-340. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-82502013000200015