Assessment of prescription writing at primary health care centers and outpatient clinics in public and private sectors in Erbil city

Abstract EN

Background and objectives Prescription writing is a science and an art, as it conveys the message from the prescriber to the dispenser.

The study aimed at screening of the prescriptions written by physicians for the presence of essential elements.

Methods This study was carried out in six primary health care (PHC) centers, three hospitals (Rizgary, Hawler and Rapareen teaching hospitals), and in three private pharmacies in Erbil city.

A cross sectional study was carried out from April 1, 2010 through March 30, 2011.

Using convenience sampling method, 1124 prescriptions were collected from the selected health facilities and examined.

Comparisons were made between the health facilities.

Results Prescriber name was present on 76.0% of the prescriptions and prescriber address was present on 42.4% of the prescriptions.

The name of the patient was present on 98.1% of the prescriptions, whereas the patient’s age and sex were mentioned in only 41.3% and 38.1% of the prescriptions respectively.

The date of the prescription was provided on 96.1% of the prescriptions, the generic drug name was present only in 6.9% and brand name in 54.6% of the prescriptions.

The diagnosis was present in 53.1%.

Conclusions It was concluded that the majority of prescriptions were not ideal.