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Drug prescribing by physicians in Cambodia
Author(s) -
Pilscek Florian H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.023
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1099-1557
pISSN - 1053-8569
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1557(199908/09)8:5<339::aid-pds439>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - medicine , artemether , quinine , digoxin , malaria , mefloquine , artesunate , pharmacology , chloroquine , plasmodium falciparum , heart failure , immunology , artemisinin
Objective To investigate drug use and prescribing by physicians in Cambodia. Material and methods Ten physicians at the hospital were interviewed. Results Two (20%) physicians prescribed frusemide and digoxin for congestive cardiac failure, two (20%) physicians frusemide, digoxin, nitrate and ACE‐inhibitor (angiotensin‐ converting enzyme), four (40%) frusemide, digoxin and ACE inhibitor, one (10%) frusemide and ACE inhibitor, and one (10%) only ACE inhibitor. Four (40%) physicians prescribed tetracycline and quinine, one (10%) only mefloquine, one (10%) mefloquine, quinine and artemether or artesunate, two (20%) quinine, one (10%) quinine and artemether or artesunate, and one (10%) chloroquine, tetracycline and quinine for malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum . For malaria due to Plasmodium vivax eight (80%) physicians prescribed chloroquine and two (20%) chloroquine and artemether or artesunate. Eight (80%) physicians prescribed 200 mg isoniazide for an adult patient for tuberculosis, one (10%) 300 mg, and one (10%) 100 mg. Eight (80%) physicians prescribed intravenous fluids for ‘tiredness’. Ten (100%) physicians prescribed bisolvone syrup for ‘cough’. Seven (70%) physicians prescribed all intravenous drugs offered: vitamin C, an antispasmodic (phlorglucinol) and calcium (other than for hypocalcaemia), One (10%) prescribed vitamin C and an antispasmodic (phlorglucinol), 1 (10%) prescribed only an antispasmodic (phlorglucinol), and one (10%) vitamin C and calcium. Two (20%) physicians prescribed all intravenous drugs offered: co‐dergocrine mesylate (Hydergine), ethamsylate, diazochrome and cimetidine, three (30%) physicians co‐dergocrine mesylate and cimetidine, four (40%) co‐dergocrine mesylate, ethamsylate and cimetide, and one (10%) cimetide only. Conclusion Cambodian physicians use drugs of unproven efficacy, symptomatic treatment for tiredness and cough, and drug regimen and doses for tuberculosis, malaria and congestive cardiac failure not recommended by national guidelines and standard textbooks. Information about drug therapy and drugs should be provided. Treatment guidelines should be set up by clinicians, scientists and health care planners, for e.g. tuberculosis and malaria, and adherence in clinical practice should be supported. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.