Assessment of a 1-year teaching programme in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Abstract

We assessed whether a 1-year teaching programme in northern Zanzibar would improve prescribing practice. Data on polypharmacy and appropriateness of the treatment of upper-respiratory infection, anaemia, and scabies from the 17 primary health-care units in northern Zanzibar were analysed before and after the teaching programme. There was a significant and sustained reduction in polypharmacy and an improvement in the treatment of upper-respiratory infection, scabies, and anaemia. This teaching programme has been successful in improving prescribing practices in a less-developed country.

• Authors: G Birrell, K G Birrell
• Journal: Lancet (London, England) (Lancet) Vol. 356 Issue 9235 Pg. 1084 (Sep 23 2000) ISSN: 0140-6736 [Print] England
• PMID: 11009151 (Publication Type: Letter)

Topics

• Anemia (drug therapy)
• Drug Prescriptions (standards, statistics & numerical data)
• Education, Professional
• Humans
• Primary Health Care (standards)
• Program Evaluation
• Respiratory Tract Infections (drug therapy)
• Scabies (drug therapy)
• Tanzania