Assessing Medical Prescription Forms as a Communication Tool in Trans-European Health Care.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The objective of the study was to compare the medical prescription forms in European Union (EU) countries, evaluating their convergence toward the implementation of cross-border care, as proposed by the existing EU health-care directives. It also aims to assess how the existing EU prescription models fulfill higher standards of medication prescribing quality and patient safety.

Methods

Prescription forms from all EU countries were purposively collected. The prescription fields and other content elements were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Forms were statistically compared with each other and a theoretical EU cross-border prescription form, using hierarchical cluster analysis and nonparametric testing.

Findings

None of the EU countries' prescripti

SUBMITTER: Cavaco AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5934983 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature