How Do We Know When to Prescribe?

[摘要] Prescribing medications for our patientsis a core part of general practice. Duringa typical session we could see a recentlydiagnosed patient with asthma to review andre-prescribe their inhalers, speak to a motheron a telephone consultation who is concernedabout her daughter’s cold that has ‘gone ontoher chest’ wanting antibiotics, and receivea prescription request via reception from alocal nursing home for an older man with aurine dipstick suggesting infection. After aconsultation where we have made a decisionto prescribe, how do we know when it hasworked and when it has not? How do weknow if our patient has come to harm from aprescription? With rising workload pressuresin primary care, decreasing levels of continuitywith our patients, and a more transactionalnature to interactions between patients andGPs, following up with patients to know theoutcome of treatment is getting harder.

[学科分类] 卫生学