Mandatory use of INN (or generic names) when prescribing is
controvelsial. Nevertheless, use of INN for state sector should be less
controversial, because only the most cost-effective preparations obtained via the
State Pharmaceutical Corporation are stocked by the in-door pharmacy. Use of
proprietary names (PN) under these circumstances may lead to confusion and is
irrational. This study investigates the use of INN and PN for drugs by medical
officers and nursing staff in selected units of ORC. A random sample of 210
patient records were studied from 12 medical wards and 3 special units. Of the
entries made by doctors 79.5% were INN, while the remainder was in PN. When
INN names were written by the doctor, 60% of the corresponding entries made by
the nurses were in INN. An analysis of the labels in bottles containing drugs in the
wards showed that 36% of the labels were in INN, 11.6% in proprietary names
and 52.4% in both
Abstract : Mandatory use of INN (or generic names) when prescribing is
controvelsial. Nevertheless, use of INN for state sector should be less
controversial, because only the most cost-effective preparations obtained via the
State Pharmaceutical Corporation are stocked by the in-door pharmacy. Use of
proprietary names (PN) under these circumstances may lead to confusion and is
irrational. This study investigates the use of INN and PN for drugs by medical
officers and nursing staff in selected units of ORC. A random sample of 210
patient records were studied from 12 medical wards and 3 special units. Of the
entries made by doctors 79.5% were INN, while the remainder was in PN. When
INN names were written by the doctor, 60% of the corresponding entries made by
the nurses were in INN. An analysis of the labels in bottles containing drugs in the
wards showed that 36% of the labels were in INN, 11.6% in proprietary names
and 52.4% in both
