Abstract

HERMIDA AMEIJEIRAS, Álvaro; CABANA GONZALEZ, Belén  and  LORENZO ZUNIGA, Vicente. A survey of gastroprotective drugs: prescription-indication in hospitalized patients. Gac Sanit [online]. 2007, vol.21, n.5, pp.412-415. ISSN 0213-9111.

Prescription rates of anti-ulcer drugs in hospitals and their spill-over to general practice have risen over the last few years, increasing pharmaceutical expenses. The aim of this study was to analyze gastroprotective drug prescription habits in our hospital by assessing both prevalence and adherence to approved indications. An observational study of prescription-indication was performed with 2 cross sections separated by 6 months to avoid selection bias. We found overprescription of gastroprotective drugs, mainly proton pump inhibitors for the prevention of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug-induced ulcer (17.1%). Overall, 77.6% of prescriptions had no acceptable indication, despite the availability of a specific protocol produced by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee in our center. There was a high prevalence of prescriptions for non-approved indications such as prophylaxis in patients administered corticosteroids without non-ste.

Keywords : Gastroprotective drugs; Rational drug use; Intravenous administration; Omeprazole; Pantoprazole; Proton pump inhibitors; Prescription; Indication.

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