[The prescription of drugs in a dental clinic of a Mexican university hospital]. / Prescripción de medicamentos en una clínica odontológica de una universidad mexicana.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the drug prescription service in a dental clinic of a Mexican university hospital. METHOD: An observational, descriptive study was carried out which analysed 698 drugs prescribed for dental problems in 14 dental health care departments in our clinic between the period of January-June 2005. The following criteria were established: prescribed drug, indication, dosage, dosage interval, individualised treatment, treatment duration and potential drug interactions. Information taken from prescriptions and clinical records was compared with information from literature on the subject in order to determine the adequacy of prescription criteria. RESULTS: The most frequently prescribed drugs were paracetamol, naproxen, ampicillin and dicloxacillin (43.26, 15.38, 7.45 and 7.02%). The prescription criteria which showed the least adequacy were as follows: indication, dosage and dosage interval. The main potential drug interactions occurred between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and captopril/amoxicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Taking the above into consideration, it was determined that 37.25% of prescriptions were inadequate. This study has helped to establish strategies which will facilitate the appropriate use of drugs in the future.

Prescripción de medicamentos en una clínica odontológica de una universidad mexicana / No disponible

Objetivo: Evaluar la prescripción de medicamentos en una clínica odontológica de una universidad mexicana. Método: Mediante un estudio observacional y descriptivo, se analizaron 698 prescripciones odontológicas en 14 servicios clínicos que conforman la clínica en estudio, enfocados a la conservación y restauración de la salud bucal en enero-junio 2005. Se registraron criterios como: medicamento prescrito, indicación, dosis, intervalo de dosificación, individualización de la terapia, duración de tratamiento y presencia de interacciones farmacológicas potenciales. Para determinar la inadecuación en los criterios de prescripción se comparó la información obtenida en recetas y expedientes clínicos, con la de la literatura especializada. Resultados: Los medicamentos más prescritos fueron paracetamol, naproxeno, ampicilina y dicloxacilina en 43,26, 15,38, 7,45 y 7,02%. La indicación, dosis e intervalo de dosificación fueron los criterios con mayor inadecuación en la prescripción. Las principales interacciones potenciales fueron entre los antiinflamatorios no esteroideos con el captopril y la amoxicilina. Conclusiones: Con lo anterior, se determinó que el 37,25% de las prescripciones fueron inadecuadas. A través de este estudio se establecieron estrategias que permitirán en un futuro tener una política de uso racional de los medicamentos empleados

Objective: To assess the drug prescription service in a dental clinic of a Mexican university hospital. Method: An observational, descriptive study was carried out which analysed 698 drugs prescribed for dental problems in 14 dental health care departments in our clinic between the period of January-June 2005. The following criteria were established: prescribed drug, indication, dosage, dosage interval, individualised treatment, treatment duration and potential drug interactions. Information taken from prescriptions and clinical records was compared with information from literature on the subject in order to determine the adequacy of prescription criteria. Results: The most frequently prescribed drugs were paracetamol, naproxen, ampicillin and dicloxacillin (43.26, 15.38, 7.45 and 7.02%). The prescription criteria which showed the least adequacy were as follows: indication, dosage and dosage interval. The main potential drug interactions occurred between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and captopril/amoxicillin. Conclusions: Taking the above into consideration, it was determined that 37.25% of prescriptions were inadequate. This study has helped to establish strategies which will facilitate the appropriate use of drugs in the future