Faraj Fraih Al-shammari

Mr. Faraj Fraih Al-shammari


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 November 2024 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SISaadeldin Ahmed Idris
Saadeldin Ahmed Idris
THTARIG MAHMOUD HUSSIEN
TARIG MAHMOUD HUSSIEN
FAFaraj Fraih Al-shammari
Faraj Fraih Al-shammari
HNHATIM ADAM NAGI
HATIM ADAM NAGI
ABAbdelhafiz Ibrahim Bashir
Abdelhafiz Ibrahim Bashir
SISomaia Ibrahim Ibrahim
Somaia Ibrahim Ibrahim
Background/Objectives: The rational use of medicines, in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, is crucial for optimizing healthcare outcomes. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate drug prescribing patterns and assess prescription completeness based on the WHO core drug use criteria. A comprehensive analysis was conducted at the University Clinic in the Northern region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: The study assessed drug prescribing patterns and examined prescription completeness by analyzing various parameters recommended by the WHO core drug use criteria. Results: Upon analyzing the 615 prescriptions, it was observed that each prescription had a mean of 2.56 prescribed drugs. Multiple medicines per prescription were prevalent in 71.4%, whereas polypharmacy was evident in 2.9%. Analgesics were the most frequently prescribed medication, accounting for 50.4% of the prescriptions, followed by supplements (31.7%), decongestants (16.1%), cough syrup (12%), and antihypertensive and diabetes treatments at 17%. Furthermore, antimicrobials were prescribed in 21.5% of the prescriptions. During the evaluation, it was found that 19.8% of the prescriptions were incomplete, lacking important information on dosing, duration, and drugs not suited to the diagnosis. Conclusions: Most of the parameters evaluated in this study were determined to fall outside the range of recommended guidelines criticized by the WHO. As a result, the implementation of efficient intervention programs, such as education initiatives, is recommended to enhance the practice of rational drug use. Contribution: This study highlights the importance of improving prescription indicators at the national level, focusing on both medication prescribing characteristics and prescription quality as a practice.