How can we improve junior doctor prescribing?

Abstract

The large number of medications available has complicated the learning of drug therapy for medical students at a time when pharmacology training has been substantially reduced. Attempts to remedy this include: improving the pharmaco-therapeutics curriculum; interactive web-based learning and students developing a personal formulary. The approach adopted by the University of Wollongong Medical School is to integrate clinical pharmacology throughout the course, with the Student Preferred-drugs Formulary linking pharmacology and common diseases. Evidence from other countries suggests this should enhance prescribing by medical graduates.