Strides in Development of Medical Education (Apr 2016)
Evaluation of the Prescription Writing Pattern of Interns for Common Diseases in Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran in 2013
Abstract
Background & Objective: Rational prescription of medicine by physicians is one of the most important factors in the correct and complete treatment of patients The aim of this study was to evaluate prescription writing patterns of graduating interns for common illnesses in Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran in 2013 Methods: In this descriptive crosssectional study the prescription writing pattern of 50 interns of Kerman University of Medical Sciences were evaluated A written exam assessing prescription writing on 30 common clinical cases was held Data were analyzed using SPSS software Results: The average number of items per each prescription was 207 The frequency of medicines prescribed by their generic name and from the World Health Organization (WHO) list of essential medicines was 968% and 971% respectively Drug interaction was observed in 56% of prescriptions The frequency of prescriptions containing antibiotics injectable medicines and corticosteroids was 472% 93% and 65% respectively The most common groups prescribed were antibiotics and analgesics Conclusion: Based on the WHO recommended standards the prescription of antibiotics by interns of Kerman University of Medical Sciences was irrational and inappropriate Therefore educational interventions are necessary to improve prescription writing patterns among interns
