Drug Utilization Review (DUR) is a systematic and ongoing evaluation of prescription drugs, including their prescribing, dispensing, and use patterns, to ensure safe, effective, and appropriate medication therapy. It involves the analysis and assessment of medication-related data in order to identify potential issues, such as inappropriate prescribing, medication errors, drug interactions, therapeutic duplications, and other concerns with medication use.
The primary objective of Drug Utilization Review is to optimize patient outcomes by promoting rational medication prescribing and improving the quality of medication therapy. It encompasses a range of activities, including the analysis of patient medical histories, medication profiles, and clinical guidelines to identify opportunities for improvement in prescribing practices and medication safety.
DUR aims to enhance patient safety by identifying and reducing medication-related risks and errors. By systematically evaluating medication data, healthcare professionals can intervene and provide feedback to prescribers, pharmacists, and patients. This feedback can include recommendations on alternative medications, dosage adjustments, monitoring parameters, or other interventions to optimize therapy and minimize adverse effects. DUR programs can be implemented at various stages of medication use, including before the prescription is filled (pre-prescription DUR), during dispensing (intermediary DUR), or after the medication has been dispensed to the patient (post-prescription DUR).
Overall, Drug Utilization Review plays a crucial role in optimizing medication therapy, minimizing medication errors, reducing healthcare costs, and ensuring patient safety by promoting appropriate and effective medication use.
