Quality Drug Use & Evaluation Flashcards
According to WHO, what is Quality Drug Use?
The rational use of drugs requires that
- Patient receive medications to their clinical needs
- Doses meeting individual requirements
- Treatment for adequate period of time
- Treatment at lowest cost to patients and community
- Treatment takes account of best clinical evidence of efficacy and safety, as well as cost-effectiveness
According WHO’s report, what are some common examples of irrational drug use
- Polypharmacy, or too many medications
- Injections used where PO more appropriate
- Abx inadequate dose, duration, or for non-bacterial infection
- Rx do not follow clinical guidelines
- Patients non-adherence, or inappropriate self-medication
What are the possible root causes for irrational drug use?
- HCP knowledge gap, Rx using outdated guidelines
- Patients concern about cost of medications, buy less medication that are unable to fill Rx, or split dose themselves
- Poor quality of drug, unable to fulfil therapeutic purpose
12 Core Interventions:
“A mandated multi-disciplinary national body to coordinate medicine use policies”
Which national body is co-ordinating this effort in Singapore?
Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE)
Notes on what other bodies do:
- HSA: Drug safety, CBA
- NPS: Pharmacy services, improve healthcare in SG
12 Core Interventions:
“Evidence-based clinical guidelines”
How does this promote rational use of medicines?
Guidelines developed in a multi-disciplinary approach, allowing HCP to stay updated in their healthcare setting, hence narrowing any knowledge gaps
12 Core Interventions:
“Essential Medicines list based on treatments of choice”
What is the equivalent of “Essential medicines list” in SG called?
Standard Drug List: Medications most essential to treat certain disease, and no residents should be deprived of these meds
12 Core Interventions:
“Drug (Pharmacy) and Therapeutics Committees in healthcare institutions”
Describe the role of Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (TOR) in promoting rational use of medications
- Serves in an evaluative, educational and advisory capacity in health institutions pertaining to use of medications
- Responsible for overseeing policies/procedures related to all aspects of medication uses, e.g.:
- Add/delete/review drugs to/on formulary, DUE, ADE monitoring and reporting, etc. (slide 9)
12 Core Interventions:
“Independent information on medicines”
Explain this intervention. In Singapore, describe the association that is in charged of ensuring independent information on medications
Independent information: Info to public and HCP should be balanced and unbiased. Companies should not accentuate benefits and hide the risks of any medications
SG: SG association of pharmaceutical industries (SAPI) governs how pharma companies should interact with stakeholders and:
- Remove conflict of interest
- Prevent biased influence onto HCP by companies
12 Core Interventions
“Avoidance of perverse financial incentives”
Explain
It’s the scheme where prescriber earns commissions for prescriptions. They may over prescribe to earn more money. Hence this is a conflict of interest, and strongly promotes irrational drug use. Avoiding this may help promote rational use of medications
12 Core Interventions
“Sufficient govt expenditure to ensure availability of medicines and staff”
How does having INSUFFICIENT expenditure in availability of medicines and staff promote irrational drug use
Lack of trained personnel and improper drug leads to irrational drug use and Rx
Hence budget set aside to train HCP properly, and also proper use of medication
List WHO’s 12 core interventions to promote rational use of medicines
- Mandated multi-disciplinary national body to coordinate medicine use policies
- Evidence-based clinical guidelines
- Essential medicines list based on treatments of choice
- TOR
- Problem-based pharmacotherapy training in undergrad curriculum
- Continuing in-service medical education as a licensure requirement
- Supervision, audit and feedback
- Independent info on medicines
- Public education about medicines
- Avoidance of perverse financial incentives
- Appropriate and enforced regulation
- Sufficient government expenditure to ensure availability of medicines and staff
What are the joint FIP/WHO guidelines on good pharmacy practice (GPP)?
- Pharmacists first concern is welfare of patients in all settings
- Core of pharm activity: help patients make the best use of medications
- Promotion of rational and economic drug use
- Each element of pharmacy service is relevant to patient. This should be communicated to all involved (i.e. multidisciplinary collab is important)
What are the roles and responsibilities of pharmacist in the medication use process
- Assure integrity of medicine supply chain
- Assure proper Rx and dispensing of medications
- Assist patients and those administering medicines to understand the importance of taking medicines properly (Right drug, route, time, dose, patient, foods, effect)
- Monitor treatment to verify effectiveness/AE
Why is quality drug use important?
- Impact on patients: need to optimise patient outcomes
2. Impact on society: Health and resources
What is the quality improvement tool used in attempt to accomplish quality drug use?
Drug use evaluation (DUE)/ Medication use evaluation (MUE) / drug use review (DUR) /drug utilisation review (DUR)