THE USE OF LONG-TERM VERSUS SHORT-TERM ACID SUPPRESSING DRUG-TREATMENT IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY-MEDICINE DEPARTMENT IN RIYADH ARMED-FORCES HOSPITAL, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To determine the current practice of prescribing short and long term (> 6 months) treatment of acid suppressing drugs. Design: Pa tients who received acid suppressing drugs from 26th July 1994 - 29th September 1994 were identified by computer search and the files of the se patients were checked for information. Setting: Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, Family and Community Medicine Departments. Subjects: All pa tients seen in the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, Family and Community Medicine Department during the period 26th July 1994 - July 29th Septe mber 1994 were given prescriptions for ranitidine, famotidine and cime tidine. Main outcome measures: Patients characters, indication of trea tment, treatment given, investigations carried out, prescribers and pe rsonnel in charge. Results: Four hundred and forty eight patients were included in the study, 250 of them were on long term acid suppressing drug treatment. In both short and long term patients there were more males than females. Forty one percent were 44 years old or younger. Ra nitidine was used by 55.6%, famotidine by 43.1% and cimetidine by only 1.3%. Heartburn and hyperacidity were the most common diagnoses, 57.6 % short term users and 17.2% long term users, followed by duodenal ulc er 10.8% in the long term user. Gastritis was found in 11.6% of short term users and 7.6% of long term users. As prophylaxis it was given in 17.2% of long term users and 10.5% of short term users. Only 9.6% of patients were asked if there was any improvement with the treatment. C onclusion: Acid suppressing treatment is common. Many patients on long and short term use are not fully diagnosed. Many patients are on non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin. There is a need for a pr otocol to be formalized and followed. Patient satisfaction or improvem ent is not adequately explored.