title: Evaluation of rational prescribing practices of doctors and medical students at the Igbo-Ora Comprehensive Hospital, Nigeria.
abstract: This study was done to determine the level of rational drug prescribing practices by doctors and medical students as well as to assess the impact of the teaching of rational drug use on the prescribing skills of students. A checklist, developed according to the key indices of a rational prescription, was used to rate prescriptions obtained from randomly selected case notes in the period 1975, 1985 and 1995 by means of a scoring system. Mean score of students increased from 5.5(out of 10) in 1975 to 7.7 in 1985(p < 0.001) but showed a significant decline to 6.8 in the period 1995(p = 0.117). Mean score of doctors was 7.1 in 1975, 6.8 in 1985(p = 0.616) and 6.8 in 1995(p = 0.910). Comparison of mean scores of doctors and students for each period revealed a significant difference only in 1975(p = 0.012) The teaching of rational drug use had improved the rational prescribing practices of medical students. There is need for a sustained effort to maintain rational drug prescribing by students and doctors in Igbo-ora hospital. Similar efforts should be made in other places in the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ogunnowo
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Asuzu
mesh_terms: D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009549:Nigeria; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*