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Table 2 Medication prescribing-related competencies (grouped by domains) and ranks*

From: Identifying competencies required for medication prescribing for general practice residents: a nominal group technique study

Domains - items

Meeting 1

Meeting 2

Meeting 3

Meeting 4

Final rank*

10 participants

7 participants

7 participants

7 participants

Pharmacology

     

  Prescribe the doses and durations following the indication

-

5

8

2

3

  Know where to find validated information for medication prescription

12

13

10

5

6

  Identify adverse drug reactions

-

8

11

10

10

  Be critical with new medications

3

4

-

17

12

  Identify potential drug interactions

5

3

8

12

12

  Prescribe in international nonproprietary names

6

22

-

6

24

  Prescribe in compliance to marketing authorizations

19

19

-

6

25

Regulatory standards

     

  Write a legible and understandable prescription for the patient and the one who administers the medication

-

1

1

2

1

  Use two-part prescription forms for patients with chronic condition falling under Affections de Longue Durée†

18

5

8

3

10

  Abide by the terms of use for specific prescriptions: secured forms, special-status medication‡ , restricted prescription, unreimbursed prescription

21

5

6

3

23

  Include mandatory information of the prescription: identification of prescriber, date, patient’s name, age, weight (for children)

3

17

1

-

26

  Know the costs associated with medication prescription: reimbursement rate and patient’s contribution

23

20

21

-

29

Therapeutics

     

  Identify specific populations (paediatric, pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly, renal impaired)

8

-

1

1

2

  Regularly re-evaluate chronic medication prescriptions

6

4

19

13

9

  Prescribe non-pharmacological treatment (lifestyle habits, dietary changes, physical activity, reassuring advices) over medication

1

-

18

19

15

  Deprescribe

11

10

19

-

18

  Abstain from systematic medication prescription

1

2

17

-

19

  Unifies prescription from different sources

7

10

7

-

20

  Use medication prescription software

22

21

13

20

28

Communication

     

  With patient

     

  Explain a lack of medication prescription to the patient

8

13

-

18

3

  Decline inappropriate medication request for prescription medication

16

-

20

16

5

  Explain to the patient his/her medication prescription

8

12

5

8

7

  Assess patient’s adherence

13

13

16

-

12

  Identify barriers to medication use

-

13

4

-

16

  Assess self-medication

16

8

14

15

21

  Explain potential adverse drug reactions to the patient

-

18

14

9

22

  With health professionals

     

  Being critical about the information supplied by the pharmaceutical industry

15

-

22

11

8

  Prescribe in collaboration with other health professionals: physicians, pharmacists, pharmacovigilance centres, Health Insurance System representatives, nurses, midwives

13

23

23

13

16

  Report adverse drug events to Pharmacovigilance Centre

20

-

12

20

27

  1. *Items with the lowest ranks were the most highly valued.
  2. † Affection de Longue Durée: in France, a list of 30 serious chronic conditions (=Affection de Longue Durée) allows 100% reimbursement for health care related to these conditions. Specific two-part prescription forms are needed to identify which medications are related to the ALD (upper part of the form) and should be 100% reimbursed to the patient.
  3. ‡ Special-status medications include highly expensive medications, reimbursed only in very restrictive indications, in accordance with a fixed ‘special status medication list’. A specific form is needed for their prescription.
  4. - Item not mentioned within that specific group.
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BMC Primary Care

ISSN: 2731-4553

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