Ascertain Fundamental and Legal Knowledge about the Art of Prescription Writing in Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors/Creators
- 1. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, RNT Medical College, Udaipur
- 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Pali.
- 3. Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, RNT Medical College, Udaipur.
- 4. MBBS final year student, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur
Description
Background- A medical student to become a prescribing physician, must acquire both the fundamental and regulatory understanding of prescription writing. Prescriptions become the most significant clinical pharmacology tool and proof of pharmaceutical access, prescription errors, prescribing errors, negligence, and subsequent litigations. Given the rising violence against doctors in India, a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted to assess participants’ understanding of the fundamental and legal aspects of writing prescriptions. Methodology- The basic and regulatory knowledge and awareness of 90 doctors was evaluated for arts of prescription writing by a novel questionnaire based on Indian regulatory guidelines. It was assessed for content validity and reliability. A total of 39 questions comprised of 70 statements categorised into three broad sections containing 13 questions in each were asked in 30 min. Results- Doctors’ knowledge of writing prescriptions is very limited. Most doctors do not knew that over-the-counter drugs do not require a prescription, that a pharmacist is the one who decodes their written prescriptions, that it is illegal to cross-prescribe (write a prescription for a drug from another system of medicine), or that they should not transcribe prescriptions over the phone. Conclusion- Prescription mistakes plague the practice of writing prescriptions for medication access. The doctors’ grasp of prescription writing basics and regulations is poor. It is therefore necessary to train them in prescription writing through standardized worldwide teaching modules. Prescription communications between physicians and patients must adhere to national regulatory requirements and be clear, accessible, thorough, and direct.
Abstract (English)
Background- A medical student to become a prescribing physician, must acquire both the fundamental and regulatory understanding of prescription writing. Prescriptions become the most significant clinical pharmacology tool and proof of pharmaceutical access, prescription errors, prescribing errors, negligence, and subsequent litigations. Given the rising violence against doctors in India, a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted to assess participants’ understanding of the fundamental and legal aspects of writing prescriptions. Methodology- The basic and regulatory knowledge and awareness of 90 doctors was evaluated for arts of prescription writing by a novel questionnaire based on Indian regulatory guidelines. It was assessed for content validity and reliability. A total of 39 questions comprised of 70 statements categorised into three broad sections containing 13 questions in each were asked in 30 min. Results- Doctors’ knowledge of writing prescriptions is very limited. Most doctors do not knew that over-the-counter drugs do not require a prescription, that a pharmacist is the one who decodes their written prescriptions, that it is illegal to cross-prescribe (write a prescription for a drug from another system of medicine), or that they should not transcribe prescriptions over the phone. Conclusion- Prescription mistakes plague the practice of writing prescriptions for medication access. The doctors’ grasp of prescription writing basics and regulations is poor. It is therefore necessary to train them in prescription writing through standardized worldwide teaching modules. Prescription communications between physicians and patients must adhere to national regulatory requirements and be clear, accessible, thorough, and direct.
Files
IJTPR,Vol13,Issue11,Article31.pdf
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Additional details
Dates
- Accepted
-
2023-11-23
Software
References
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