Indicators of quality use of medicines in South‐East Asian countries: a systematic review

Objectives To identify indicators of quality use of medicines used in South‐East Asian region. Methods A systematic review was conducted searching MEDLINE, Embase and The International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) and The World Health Organization (WHO) website. Original studies or reports carried out in the South‐East Asian region, explicitly using indicators to measure quality use of medicines, and published between January 2000 and July 2011 were included. Results A total of 17 studies conducted in 7 of 11 countries in South‐East Asia were included. WHO indicators focusing on general medication use in health facilities were most widely used (10 studies). Twelve studies used non‐WHO indicators for measuring quality use of medicines in clinical areas (geriatrics and obstetrics) or specific diseases, such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. In five studies, WHO indicators were used along with non‐WHO indicators. There was little information available about validity, reliability and feasibility of the non‐WHO indicators. The majority of indicators measured process rather than structure or outcome. There were very few indicators addressing non‐communicable diseases. Conclusions A limited number of studies have been published explicitly using indicators of quality use of medicines across South‐East Asia. Importantly, existing indicators need to be complemented with valid, reliable and feasible indicators related to non‐communicable diseases, particularly those with a high financial burden to meet the current medical challenges in the region. Objectifs: Identifier les indicateurs de la qualité d’utilisation des médicaments utilisés dans la région de l’Asie du Sud‐est. Méthodes: Une revue systématique a été menée en recherchant sur les sites Internet de Medline, Embase, le Réseau International pour l’Usage Rationnel des Médicaments (INRUD) et l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS). Les études ou rapports originaux réalisés dans la région de l’Asie du Sud‐est, en utilisant explicitement des indicateurs pour mesurer la qualité d’utilisation des médicaments et publiés entre janvier 2000 et juillet 2011, ont été inclus. Résultats: 17 études menées dans 7 des 11 pays de l’Asie du Sud‐est ont été inclues. Les indicateurs de l’OMS centrés sur l’utilisation générale des médicaments dans les établissements de santéétaient plus largement utilisés (10 études). 12 études ont utilisé des indicateurs non OMS pour mesurer la qualité d’utilisation des médicament