title: Rational prescribing of drugs.
abstract: A rational prescription is defined as one which proposes the best pharmacological approach to obtain the therapeutic objective. To achieve this goal requires a careful consideration of factors related to: patient, disease, medication, and doctor. Concepts of risk/benefit and cost/benefit are of relevance for the therapeutic decision. The doctor also has to make an effort to assure the compliance of his patients. This requires a good understanding of the personality and of the socio-cultural background of the patient. Social pharmacology helps to appreciate and understand the role of these factors and to use them for improvement of therapeutic results.
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004358:Drug Therapy; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012306:Risk; D012931:Social Environment