Evaluation of Drug Prescribing Habits in a Postgraduate Teaching Set-up in Saudi Arabia

The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the rationale behind the practices of drug use in a teaching hospital that provides primary health care. A total of 500 prescriptions issued 6y faculty and post-graduate fellowship residents in the Department of Family and Community Medicine were collected. An evaluation of these prescriptions was carried out using the INRUD indicators of drug prescribing. The results of this study showed that apart from the low percentage (43.2%) of drugs prescribed generically, the application of INRUD indicators of drug prescribing appeared satisfactory when compared to similar studies from local and other developing countries. This study recommends a review of the current teaching of Pharmacology and Therapeutics to undergraduates in general & in particular to postgraduates specializing in Family & Community Medicine. Quality assurance systems on drug prescribing at primary health care centers should be established and implemented. Large scale studies similar to that under discussion should be encouraged.