[Degree of gratification of needs in the use of drugs]

Studies aiming at determining the degree of satisfaction of needs in drug application are hindered by the fact that a clear-cut differentiation between the portions of drugs and the portions of counselling and of care during the process of satisfaction of needs is very problematic. The satisfaction of needs by prophylactic agents can be deduced from the ratio between the number of diseases for which a group of patients had been treated prophylactically and the number of diseases in an untreated control group. As to therapeutic agents, the decision on the satisfaction of needs depends, due to biological action limits of the pharmacon, on the extent at which the therapeutic accomplishment corresponds to the goal of needs. Goals of needs are defined, and evaluation criteria are established. The goals and the criteria are quantified using rank classifications and scales for grading. A model experiment confirms that it is possible --to evaluate the respective drug from the aspect of therapeutic accomplishment; --to determine the degree of satisfaction of needs by conforming to limiting guide values; and --to compare different drugs as to the satisfaction of needs by them.