RMU Flashcards
What does ‘Rational Medicine Use’ (RMU) mean?
Using medicines in a sensible way by taking into account all available information.
RMU requires that patients receive appropriate medicines for their clinical needs.
What are the criteria for the rational use of drugs according to WHO?
Patients receive medicines that are appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their individual requirements, for an adequate period of time, and at the lowest cost.
WHO definition from 1988.
List symptoms of irrational use of medicines.
- Polypharmacy
- Use of medicines when no drug therapy is needed
- Wrong medicines for specific conditions
- Medicines with doubtful efficacy
- Medicines of uncertain safety status
- Failure to prescribe available, safe, effective medicines
- Incorrect administration, dosages, or duration.
Identify examples of common inappropriate prescribing practices.
- Indiscriminate use of injections for malaria
- Tonics and multivitamins for malnutrition
- Use of antibiotics for mild, non-bacterial infections
- Overuse of antibiotics and antidiarrheals for nonspecific childhood diarrhea.
What factors influence the irrational use of medicines?
- Patient misinformation
- Prescriber lack of education
- Industry promotion
- Inefficient medicine supply management
- Medicine regulation issues.
What are the impacts of inappropriate use of medicines?
- Reduced quality of therapy
- Waste of resources
- Risk of unwanted effects
- Psycho-social impacts.
Name intervention strategies to improve medicine use.
- Educational strategies
- Managerial strategies
- Economic strategies
- Regulatory strategies.
What are the six steps in medicine prescribing?
- Define the patient health problem
- Specify the therapeutic objective
- Verify the suitability of medicine
- Write a clear prescription
- Inform and instruct the patient
- Monitor and/or stop the treatment.
Fill in the blank: To prescribe rationally, one must ask if the patient really needs a _______.
[medicine]
Which groups of patients are of special concern in prescribing?
- Pregnant women
- Lactating women
- Children
- Elderly
- Patients with renal failure
- Patients with drug allergies.
- Patients with other diseases.
How can rational medicine prescribing be promoted among doctors?
- Including rational use of medicines in medical curricula
- Continuous professional development
- Availability of independent information sources.
What components ensure good dispensing practice?
- Dispensing environment
- Dispensing person (pharmacist) qualifications
- Dispensing process.
What should a pharmacist check when receiving a prescription?
- Ensure the prescription is for the correct patient
- Check the name and address.
List reasons why patients may stop treatment.
- Symptoms ceased
- Unpleasant side effects
- Unperceivable effects
- Complicated dosage form.
How can patient adherence to treatment be improved?
- Prescribe a well-chosen treatment
- Create a good doctor-pharmacist-patient relationship
- Provide comprehensive information and instructions.
What are reliable sources of information for prescribers and dispensers?
- Reference books
- Medicine compendia
- Essential medicine list
- Medicine formularies
- Pharmaceutical journals
- Medical journals
- Drug information centers.
True or False: It is important to use the internet as a primary source of information for prescribers.
False
The internet can be misleading; caution is advised when using it.
