title: [Need for improvement in education on appropriate prescribing in elderly patients].
abstract: Prescribing errors can cause great harm to patients. In the Netherlands, it is estimated that 7000 preventable medication-related hospitals admissions occur annually, caused in many cases by prescribing errors. Elderly patients are at greatest risk, since this patient demographic is most likely to be prescribed multiple medications. Robust education on appropriate prescribing is essential for all clinicians with the authority to prescribe. Currently, some issues still require improvement in the Netherlands: a) education continues to focus heavily on basic pharmacology knowledge instead of patient related pharmacotherapy skills, b) an appropriate assessment procedure on pharmacotherapy knowledge and skills is often lacking, c) there is no mandatory requirement for physicians to maintain their knowledge and skills in the field of pharmacotherapy during their working career. In this article we discuss means to improve this situation, with the overall aim to ensure that all vulnerable elderly patients are in safe hands with each physician.
authors.affiliation: Jeroen Bosch ziekenhuis, afd. Klinische Geriatrie,'s-Hertogenbosch.
authors.forename: C J P W Karen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Keijsers
authors.forename: Paul A F
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: J R B J  Koos
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: Dick J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: de Wildt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009426:Netherlands; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*