QUALITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF DRUG PRESCRIPTION IN A GERIATRIC POPULATION-SAMPLE

The rationality of specialist drug prescription in 154 patients older than 64 in 3 Zagreb homes for the aged was analyzed over an 11-month p eriod. Categories analyzed were: number of prescribed drugs, justifica tion of prescription, adequacy of the dose, route, form and therapy du ration of the prescribed drugs, adequacy of the type of the prescribed drugs in the advanced age and the presence of contraindications of dr ugs used. The criterion of the rational drug use was the WHO's modifie d definition of rational drug therapy: ''Application of an appropriate drug by a correct route in an adequate dose over a sufficiently long period of time''. This basic criterion was further elaborated in relat ion to the analyzed categories. There were 2.66 (+/- 1.65) prescribed drugs per visit in which drugs were prescribed. In all analyzed catego ries, distinctive aberations from the principles of rational drug pres cription were found. One hundred and sixty-four (41.4%) of all drugs w ere unjustifiably prescribed and 103 (26.4%) were not dosed correctly. The duration of the therapy was inadequate for 60 (15.4%), route for 41 (10.5%), form for 32 (8.2%) of drugs prescribed. Seventy-five (19.3 %) were not adequate because of patients' age and 15 (3.9%) were presc ribed in spite of existing contraindications.