Spotlight: Archives

Every month, the subjects in Prescrire’s Spotlight.

2009 : 1 | 30 | 60 | 90

Programme for improving professional practice: Prescrire’s experience

"Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during pregnancy" was the stated aim of the highest number of Prescrire subscribers.

It is in patients’ best interests for all health professionals to improve their knowledge and practices through continuing education programmes that are independent from economic interests.

Prescrire invites its subscribers to sign up for its professional development programmes, which help health professionals to incorporate solid evidence from clinical evaluation into their practice.

Prescrire has published the participants’ feedback on their training experience. “Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy” was the most frequently stated aim during the January-April 2008 training session. This means neither prescribing nor recommending a NSAID to a pregnant or possibly pregnant woman; it also requires being aware of the risk associated with very frequent self-medication using NSAIDs. Translating this objective into practice required attention, imagination and patient relations skills on the part of health professionals. Despite the difficulties and various obstacles related to time management, patients who are often ill-informed, and difficult treatment decisions, the sharing of this experience with other health professionals was highly instructive and gave the participants plenty to think about.

©Prescrire July 2009

Source: "Éviter toute prise d'AINS durant la grossesse : un objectif d'amélioration des pratiques professionnelles" Rev Prescrire 2008; 28 (301) 858-860.
"NSAID-free pregnancies: a Prescrire professional programme" Prescrire International 2009; 18 (101): 136-138.

- More articles in Prescrire's "Spotlight"...