Effect of a workshop in rational pharmacotherapy for interns during family medicine clerkship in Samsun- Turkey.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of rational pharmacotherapy workshop for interns on the rationality, cost and number of drugs prescribed. Methods:�Theparticipantswereaskedtoprescribeamedicationforacutenoninflammatoryosteoarthritis� (ANOA), acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ARS), acute otitis media (AOM), acute uncomplicated cystitis (AC), and acute bacterial tonsillopharyngitis (ABT) before and after workshop. Total 3000 prescriptions were scored regarding rationality of the drug choice (0-10), format (0-5), instructions (0-4), legibility (0-1) and total (0-20 points). The mean number of drug(s) and total costs per prescription were calculated. Paired samples t-test was used to compare the pre- and post score means. Results:�Totalpre-�andpost-prescribingscores�(0-20)�weresignificantlydifferent�(p=0.00�foreach):�ANOA� (13.59±0.27, 18.33±0.18), ARS (13.26 ±0.18, 15.15 ±0.17), AOM (12.58 ± 0.26, 14.66±0.27), AC (13.53±0.17, 15.76±0.20), ABT (13.54±0.24, 15.49 ±0.28). Mean number of drugs per prescription for the indications inthepre-testandpost-testwere:�ANOA�(1.24�±0.29,�1.02±0.01,�p=0.00),�ARS�(2.08±0.04,�2.00±0.04,� p=0.16),�AOM�(1.66±0.04�and�1.69±0.03,�p=0.54),�AC�(1.55±0.04,�1.39±0.03,�p=0.00)�andABT�(2.10±0.05,� 1.81±0.05,�p=0.00).�MeancostsperprescriptioninTurkishLiras:�ANOA�(6.31±0.29,�4.60±0.05,�p=0.00),� ARS�(13.80±0.38,�4.63±0.04,�p=0.00),�AOM�(10.18±0.28,�4.41±0.07,�p=0.00),�AC�(11.33±0.21,�10.68±0.18,� p=0.01)�andABT�(12.03±0.34�and�10.41±0.35,�p=0.00). Conclusion:�Trainingproducedasignificantimprovementinrationalprescribing.