Guideline for the evaluation of prescription appropriateness

Evaluation of prescriptions is a necessary process of evaluating the appropriateness of clinical drug usage, discovering existing problems, and formulating solutions. There are challenges for professionals within hospital medical departments and for clinicians and pharmacists who have clinical questions relating to inappropriate or abnormal prescriptions as identified by the electronic evaluation system of prescription. Medications are usually used correctly according to the drug instructions or guidelines. At present, there are no relevant domestic or international guidelines, or principles or standards for identifying inappropriate or abnormal prescriptions. To develop the guideline for evaluation of prescriptions appropriateness in clinical practice, the Pharmaceutical Affairs Commission of the Chinese Hospital Association formed the guideline working group consisting of multidisciplinary experts. The guideline working group summarized clinical questions in the evaluation of prescriptions, searched for supporting evidence, and reached a consensus for recommendations. The guideline contains 6 recommendations for evaluating prescription appropriateness, and the general principle of these recommendations is that clinicians should provide drug instructions, guidelines, or moderate evidence supporting the prescription, and the evaluators will then judge the prescription to be either appropriate or irrational. The recommendations resolve common clinical questions, using supporting examples, explanations and a flow chart. The evaluation of prescription appropriateness could be made more systematic and transparent based on this guideline’s conclusions.