Impact of drug usage review on drug utilisation.

Drug use review (DUR) programmes have been a component of efforts to improve prescribing practices in both the institutional and ambulatory care settings in various areas of the world. DUR provides the mechanism for developing standards, assessing current therapy, and implementing a specific intervention followed by reassessment of drug utilisation. A number of interventions aimed at improving drug prescribing practices have been included as components of the DUR process. At this time, face-to-face interaction with the prescriber has been shown to be the most effective intervention. However, DUR interventions have rarely been subjected to quality pharmacoeconomic evaluation. There is a need for future research to evaluate the effects of DUR programmes on overall healthcare outcomes.