title: Evaluation of rational use of medicines (RUM) in four government hospitals in UAE.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies conducted showed that there were gaps regarding the rational use of medicines (RUM).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate RUM in main government hospitals in four emirates in UAE, using WHO prescribing indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter prospective cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in 4 hospitals in 4 different Emirates in UAE. Using consecutive random sampling method, a total of 1100 prescriptions (2741 prescribed drugs) were collected and analyzed from surveyed hospitals from April to October 2012. Index of RATIONAL Drug Prescribing (IRDP) was used as an indicator of RUM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main finding of this study was that, the mean values of prescribing indicators of RUM in the surveyed hospitals were estimated to be within the WHO optimal values for generics (100.0 vs. 100.0), antibiotics (9.8 ± 4.8 vs. ⩽30), injections (3.14 ± 1.7 vs. ⩽10) and formulary (EML) prescribing (100.0 vs. 100.0). However, the only discrepancy was reported regarding the number of drugs per prescription which was found to be more than the WHO optimal value (2.49 ± 0.9 vs. ⩽2); respectively. The mean IRDP was 4.55 which was less than the WHO optimal value of 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies and interventions are desirable to promote RUM and minimize the consequences of poly-pharmacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Asim Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Elnour
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Abdel Azim Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Nageeb A G M
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), UAE University, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Abdulla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shehab
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Gondar University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Akshaya Srikanth
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bhagavathula
keywords: Drugs; Essential medicine list (EML); Prescribing indicators; Rational use of medicine (RUM)