[Proposal for a new classification of long-term treatment in primary health care].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the suitability of medication for an automatised dispensing system (ADS) for prescriptions by means of an indicator specially designed for this study.


METHODS
A descriptive, crossover study of the medicines contained in our ADS.


METHODS
Raval-Sud Basic Health District, Barcelona.


RESULTS
The indicator was designed and its categories determined through the interaction of the following variables for each medicine: its most usual indication, length of treatment, intrinsic value and the theoretical source of prescription. Then all the medicines included in the ADS were codified and analysed with a computer program. The 728 analysed were classified in 8 different categories: those for acute pathology (32%), for subacute or acute pathology requiring long-term treatment (potentially chronic indication) (9%), for chronic pathology controlled at the primary care level (22%), for chronic pathology controlled in the hospital context (12%), for mental pathology (8%), for chronic pathology well controlled but with a low intrinsic value (3%), medicines of low intrinsic value for chronic pathology (degenerative pathology) without recognised pharmacological alternatives which the family doctor or specialist can prescribe (14%).


CONCLUSIONS
If medicines were better defined and codified, the proposed indicator would facilitate rapid discrimination of different groups of drugs' suitability or otherwise for ADS.
Carrillo Muñoz
R
R
ABS Raval Sud, CAP Drassanes, Barcelona.
Herrera Ruiz
A
A
Grau Bartomeu
J
J
Franch Nadal
J
J
Casas Rodríguez
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000145:classification*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
Propuesta de una nueva categorización para tratamientos prolongados en atención primaria.