Physicians and Pharmacists Adherence to prescribing guidelines of Controlled Psychotropic Drugs: A study in Private Sector, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Objective: To assess the adherence of physicians and pharmacists in private sector to the guidelines of controlled psychotropic medications (CPM), the practicality of the guidelines and the degree of enforcement and follow-up of these guidelines stipulated by the Ministry of Health. Methods: The present study was performed in ten private community pharmacies (PCPs) and six private hospital pharmacies authorized to dispense CPM in Riyadh city. Data collection form was used to assess pharmacy records for CPM, and to collect data on prescription parameters in order to assess whether the prescriptions are properly written and dispensed. A twenty percent random sample of prescriptions dispensed in each pharmacy, during January 1999 to September 2001 were collected through a systematic random sampling to assess the degree of physicians and pharmacists compliance to the guidelines laid down by the MOH. The pharmacists opinions on the practicality of the guidelines and degree of enforcement and follow up were assessed prospectively through questionnaire.