Medical education reduces inappropriate use of cimetidine in a teaching hospital

Before and after an education program to improve appropriate prescribing of cimetidine in an 810-bed teaching hospital, all new prescriptions written during a 4-week period were investigated, and information was obtained as to the indications for use, the dosage and concurrent drug therapy. The prescriptions were judged appropriate or inappropriate according to indications for cimetidine approved by the Department of National Health and Welfare's Health Protection Branch. After the program 63% of the prescriptions were deemed appropriate, compared with 40% before the program. The proportion of patients at risk of drug interactions, however, remained virtually unchanged. The results suggest that medical education can reduce the inappropriate use of cimetidine in teaching hospitals.