Rational drug use
What do resident surgeons know about common medicines?
Keywords:
RATIONAL USE OF DRUGS, DESCRIPTION OF DRUGSAbstract
Background. Non rational use of medicines is a needless risk for patients and a lost of sources. Prescription habits of surgeons are one of the causes of non-rational use of medicines. Prescription is a process that requires updated and independent information about medicines.
Objective. To determine knowledge about common medicines in pediatricians and internal medicine residents.
Method. In December 2002 a personal and anonymous questionnaire was answered by 69 residents (38 pediatricians and 31 internal medicine). Information on generic name, dosage, adverse reactions and contraindications of medicines of common use was inquired for each group of specialists. Answers were classified as true or false according to a standard designed by the authors.
Results. Pediatric residents gave the following true answers: generic name 82%, dosage 42%, common adverse reactions 16%, serious adverse reactions 16%, and contraindications 32%. Among internal medicine residents, true answers were:
Generic name 89%, dosage 53%, common adverse reactions 16%, serious adverse reactions 45%, and contra-indications 46%. Proportion of true responses was higher in internal medicine residents in relation to dosage, serious adverse reactions.
Conclusions: A high proportion of the residents surveyed do not have sufficient knowledge regarding the doses, adverse effects and contraindications of these frequently used medications. This constitutes a determining factor in the irrational prescription of medications. It is necessary to strengthen the continuous training in pharmacology and therapeutics of resident doctors to reverse this problem.
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