Evaluation of drug use in Jordan using WHO patient care and health facility indicators.

We prospectively studied current drug use in Jordan in 21 primary health care facilities in northern Jordan over a three-month period, using World Health Organization-recommended indicators. Both the mean time spent on physician-patient consultations (3.9 +/- 3.5 minutes) and mean pharmacy dispensing time (28.8 +/- 23.7 seconds) were short, resulting in a mean patient knowledge of prescribed drug dose of 77.7%. No centre had an essential drugs list and/or formulary available. An average of 80% of key drugs were available at centres. Baseline data gathered by this study can be used by researchers and policymakers to monitor and improve pharmaceutical prescribing and consumption practices in Jordan.