Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
07:02
A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
Published on: February 11, 2019
Field tests for rational drug use in twelve developing countries
H V Hogerzeil1, Bimo, D Ross-Degnan
1World Health Organization, Action Programme on Essential Drugs, Geneva, Switzerland.
Lancet (London, England)
|December 4, 1993
Summary
This study introduces drug-use indicators for developing nations, aiding in better prescribing and drug use. These indicators help raise awareness, identify problems like polypharmacy, and measure intervention effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Improving drug use and prescribing in developing countries is a global health priority.
- Objective assessment tools are crucial for evaluating and enhancing drug-use practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a set of drug-use indicators developed and validated across twelve developing countries.
- To demonstrate the practical applications of these indicators in diverse healthcare settings.
Main Methods:
- Development and testing of a standardized set of drug-use indicators.
- Application of indicators in twelve developing countries for assessment and intervention evaluation.
Main Results:
- Indicators were used to increase prescriber awareness in Malawi and Bangladesh.
- Identified priorities included polypharmacy (Indonesia, Nigeria), overuse of injections (Uganda, Sudan, Nigeria), and poor patient understanding of dosage schedules (Malawi).
- Quantified intervention impact in Yemen, Uganda, Sudan, and Zimbabwe.
Conclusions:
- The developed drug-use indicators provide a valuable tool for improving prescribing behavior and drug utilization in developing countries.
- These indicators facilitate targeted interventions and monitoring of healthcare quality.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Clinical Trials: Overview
Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
01:25Drug Regulation
Drug regulation encompasses the management of drug usage by evaluating its safety and efficacy through assessments conducted by regulatory authorities. Regrettably, the history of drug regulation is marred by several catastrophic events. One such incident is the Elixir Sulfanilamide tragedy, in which the toxic compound diethyl glycol was included in a sweet-tasting medication, leading to numerous fatalities. This event prompted the enactment of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938. Under...
01:28Preclinical Development: Overview
Preclinical development consists of a series of tests that ensure the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic compound before it is tested in humans. There are four main phases to this process. First, safety pharmacology tests are conducted to ensure the drug does not produce any acutely harmful effects. These tests examine parameters such as bronchoconstriction, cardiac dysrhythmias, blood pressure changes, and ataxia. Next, preliminary toxicological testing is performed to determine the...
01:23Drug Concentrations: Measurements
Drug concentration is the quantity of a drug present in a biological sample. Measuring drug amounts in biological samples allows the clinician to understand how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted. Samples can be obtained through invasive or non-invasive methods. Invasive techniques involve surgical or parenteral interventions to gather blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or tissue biopsy. Conversely, non-invasive approaches provide samples like urine, feces, and saliva.
Plasma —...
Plasma —...
01:29Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is the clinical practice of measuring specific drug levels in a patient's blood or body tissues to manage and optimize therapy. TDM is crucial for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, like warfarin and phenytoin, where incorrect doses can lead to treatment failure or severe side effects. This monitoring ensures the dosage administered is within a safe and effective range. The factors affecting therapeutic drug monitoring include:Patient-Specific Factors:a.
01:26Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Drug Analysis Methods
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is a clinical practice that measures specific drug levels in a patient's blood or body tissues to tailor drug therapy effectively. This monitoring is critical for managing drugs with narrow therapeutic indices like digoxin and phenytoin, ensuring they are both safe and effective. For instance, monitoring theophylline levels in asthma patients involves precision and sensitivity to adjust doses according to individual responses to therapy, ensuring efficacy and...