Irrational prescribing: myths and facts

Abstract

New medical undergraduates should be well trained regarding rational prescribing, proper diagnosis and adequate dosing, frequency etc in their course as per MCI Pharmacology curriculum. So when they start their own clinic, he/she prescribes only an antihistamine for the patient with common cold for two days at bed time and asks the patient to come after two days but on other side the mind-set of the patient will be such that there exists a pill for every illness which makes them to think that particular doctor has not prescribed more drugs which may be due to lack of knowledge and so immediately the patient will go to another doctor who will prescribe at least 3 drugs one antihistamine, one antibiotic and analgesic for the common cold because of which the mind-set of people gets corrupted. Thus, the undue pressure by the patients on the health care providers/practioners to prescribe a greater number of drugs is one of the most troublesome factors which contributes for irrational use of medicines. Macfarlane et al had also proved that in the treatment of acute lower respiratory tract infections the inclusion of antibiotic in the prescription was around 74%, of which patient pressure was the main reason in more than half.