The Health Sector at the state of Kuwait is facing many challenges. One of which is public expectations in health are high, and thus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kuwait has amplified the health expenditure by 86% since 2007. And since the medicine budget represents half of the total MOH budget, it is proposed that the development in health policy might be a suitable tool to control the inflation within the health budget. This thesis examines the opportunities and challenges of introducing an EML in Kuwait and the factors influencing its effectiveness. A mixed-methodology approach has been used to enhance and validate the data, in the form of interviews, comparative studies and questionnaires. One major limitation to the research was the lack of previous data relating to this work, and the information should be gathered in person in the form of hard copies, and later, the data was analysed using qualitative and quantitative approaches. It has been attained that, the EML might be a valuable tool if adopted and implemented appropriately, EML adjustment to country health situation is crucial for successful utilisation and fulfilling the concept objectives. Standard Treatment Guidelines are fundamental part of EM selection process, in Kuwait there were lack in the uniformity of the local STG, but fortunately, there is an eagerness to innovate, and the medicine situation might benefit from a type of organisation, overall, if the EML implemented efficiently in Kuwait, it might help in improving the general health and control the inflation in MOH budget.

Cirurgiões-dentistas são responsáveis pela prescrição de medicamentos, fazendo-se necessário estudos que investiguem o quanto o paciente conhece seu tratamento. Outro aspecto de destaque na odontologia é a automedicação. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar e caracterizar o nível de conhecimento dos pacientes em relação aos medicamentos prescritos em serviços odontológicos públicos de Porto Alegre; verificar existência de prescrições verbais; identificar a prevalência de automedicação. METODOLOGIA: A pesquisa seguiu o modelo de estudo transversal. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi um questionário preenchido após consulta com o dentista, em dois serviços de urgência odontológica. Para avaliar o nível de conhecimento, utilizou-se um escore cuja pontuação possibilitou a classificação em nível bom, regular ou insuficiente. Para a automedicação, identificou-se a prevalência da prática, classes farmacológicas e medicamentos mais utilizados pelos pacientes, no âmbito odontológico. RESULTADOS: Dos 286 entrevistados, 164 (57%) eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 35 anos e renda familiar de 3,5 salários mínimos. Observou-se um índice de aproximadamente 10% de prescrições verbais, e em relação às prescrições escritas (n=258), identificou-se que 86% dos pacientes sabiam o nome do medicamento, 85% a freqüência de doses, 66% a indicação terapêutica e 65% a dose. Apenas 20% e 9% sabiam informar sobre precauções e efeitos adversos, respectivamente. Através do escore utilizado, 55% da amostra apresentou um nível de conhecimento regular, 34% insuficiente e 11% bom. Encontrou-se uma prevalência de 70% de automedicação, sendo as classes mais utilizadas os analgésicos (52%), antiinflamatórios não-esteróides (14%), relaxantes musculares (11%) e antibióticos (9%). Não houve associação entre a prática da automedicação e variáveis sócio-demográficas. CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos pacientes apresenta um nível de conhecimento suficiente a respeito das informações principais do tratamento, porém é necessária uma melhor comunicação entre dentista e paciente a fim de promover o uso racional de medicamentos. A alta prevalência de automedicação e não associação com características sócio-demográficas pode estar relacionada ao problema que geralmente motiva a busca do atendimento de urgência, a dor dental, que requer solução imediata e pode ser, em um primeiro momento, contornada com medicamentos de venda livre. Porém, deve-se ressaltar o percentual expressivo de medicamentos utilizados equivocadamente para tratar afecções bucais. / Dentists are responsible for drug prescribing, hence the importance of studies that aim to evaluate patients’ knowledge regarding their treatment. Another matter of concern in dentistry is the practice of self-medication. OBJECTIVES: To assess and describe the degree of patients’ knowledge regarding their prescribed medicine in emergency dental services located in Porto Alegre, Brazil; verify the occurence of verbal prescribing practice by dentists; assess prevalence of self-medication. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two emergency services, whose data were collected using a structured questionnaire after dental consultation. In order to evaluate the degree of patient’s knowlegde, a scoring system was used, which each variable was graded. The sum of the points produced three different levels: good, regular and insufficient. Regarding self-medication, the aim was to establish its prevalence and identify the most utilized medications before seeking the dentist. RESULTS: Of the 286 outpatients interviewed, 164 (57%) were female, with a 35 year-old average and family mean income of 3.5 minimal salaries. Around 10% of the patients received verbal prescription and of the 258 who were questioned concerning medication knowledge from written prescriptions, 86% identified correctly the drug’s name, 85% could tell the dose schedule, 66% knew the indication and 65% the correct dosage. Only 20% and 9% were able to inform aspects of precautions and adverse reactions, respectively. From scoring system results, 55% of the patients displayed a regular knowledge, 34% insufficient and 11% a good one. The prevalence of self-medication among patients was 70%, being analgesics (52%), nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (14%), muscle relaxants (11%) and antibiotics (9%) the most utilized groups. There was no association between self-medication and independent variables. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the patients showed a sufficient knowledge level concerning the primary aspects of drug treatment, however a better communication between dentists and pacients is required in order to promote rational drug use. The high prevalence of self-medication and its lack of association with socio-demographic variables might be related to the reason people usually seek the emergency department, that is dental pain, which requires immediate care and may be, on a first attempt, solved with OTC drugs. However, there was an expressive share of medication mistankely used for dental purposes.

Cirurgiões-dentistas são responsáveis pela prescrição de medicamentos, fazendo-se necessário estudos que investiguem o quanto o paciente conhece seu tratamento. Outro aspecto de destaque na odontologia é a automedicação. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar e caracterizar o nível de conhecimento dos pacientes em relação aos medicamentos prescritos em serviços odontológicos públicos de Porto Alegre; verificar existência de prescrições verbais; identificar a prevalência de automedicação. METODOLOGIA: A pesquisa seguiu o modelo de estudo transversal. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi um questionário preenchido após consulta com o dentista, em dois serviços de urgência odontológica. Para avaliar o nível de conhecimento, utilizou-se um escore cuja pontuação possibilitou a classificação em nível bom, regular ou insuficiente. Para a automedicação, identificou-se a prevalência da prática, classes farmacológicas e medicamentos mais utilizados pelos pacientes, no âmbito odontológico. RESULTADOS: Dos 286 entrevistados, 164 (57%) eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 35 anos e renda familiar de 3,5 salários mínimos. Observou-se um índice de aproximadamente 10% de prescrições verbais, e em relação às prescrições escritas (n=258), identificou-se que 86% dos pacientes sabiam o nome do medicamento, 85% a freqüência de doses, 66% a indicação terapêutica e 65% a dose. Apenas 20% e 9% sabiam informar sobre precauções e efeitos adversos, respectivamente. Através do escore utilizado, 55% da amostra apresentou um nível de conhecimento regular, 34% insuficiente e 11% bom. Encontrou-se uma prevalência de 70% de automedicação, sendo as classes mais utilizadas os analgésicos (52%), antiinflamatórios não-esteróides (14%), relaxantes musculares (11%) e antibióticos (9%). Não houve associação entre a prática da automedicação e variáveis sócio-demográficas. CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos pacientes apresenta um nível de conhecimento suficiente a respeito das informações principais do tratamento, porém é necessária uma melhor comunicação entre dentista e paciente a fim de promover o uso racional de medicamentos. A alta prevalência de automedicação e não associação com características sócio-demográficas pode estar relacionada ao problema que geralmente motiva a busca do atendimento de urgência, a dor dental, que requer solução imediata e pode ser, em um primeiro momento, contornada com medicamentos de venda livre. Porém, deve-se ressaltar o percentual expressivo de medicamentos utilizados equivocadamente para tratar afecções bucais. / Dentists are responsible for drug prescribing, hence the importance of studies that aim to evaluate patients’ knowledge regarding their treatment. Another matter of concern in dentistry is the practice of self-medication. OBJECTIVES: To assess and describe the degree of patients’ knowledge regarding their prescribed medicine in emergency dental services located in Porto Alegre, Brazil; verify the occurence of verbal prescribing practice by dentists; assess prevalence of self-medication. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two emergency services, whose data were collected using a structured questionnaire after dental consultation. In order to evaluate the degree of patient’s knowlegde, a scoring system was used, which each variable was graded. The sum of the points produced three different levels: good, regular and insufficient. Regarding self-medication, the aim was to establish its prevalence and identify the most utilized medications before seeking the dentist. RESULTS: Of the 286 outpatients interviewed, 164 (57%) were female, with a 35 year-old average and family mean income of 3.5 minimal salaries. Around 10% of the patients received verbal prescription and of the 258 who were questioned concerning medication knowledge from written prescriptions, 86% identified correctly the drug’s name, 85% could tell the dose schedule, 66% knew the indication and 65% the correct dosage. Only 20% and 9% were able to inform aspects of precautions and adverse reactions, respectively. From scoring system results, 55% of the patients displayed a regular knowledge, 34% insufficient and 11% a good one. The prevalence of self-medication among patients was 70%, being analgesics (52%), nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (14%), muscle relaxants (11%) and antibiotics (9%) the most utilized groups. There was no association between self-medication and independent variables. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the patients showed a sufficient knowledge level concerning the primary aspects of drug treatment, however a better communication between dentists and pacients is required in order to promote rational drug use. The high prevalence of self-medication and its lack of association with socio-demographic variables might be related to the reason people usually seek the emergency department, that is dental pain, which requires immediate care and may be, on a first attempt, solved with OTC drugs. However, there was an expressive share of medication mistankely used for dental purposes.

Cirurgiões-dentistas são responsáveis pela prescrição de medicamentos, fazendo-se necessário estudos que investiguem o quanto o paciente conhece seu tratamento. Outro aspecto de destaque na odontologia é a automedicação. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar e caracterizar o nível de conhecimento dos pacientes em relação aos medicamentos prescritos em serviços odontológicos públicos de Porto Alegre; verificar existência de prescrições verbais; identificar a prevalência de automedicação. METODOLOGIA: A pesquisa seguiu o modelo de estudo transversal. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi um questionário preenchido após consulta com o dentista, em dois serviços de urgência odontológica. Para avaliar o nível de conhecimento, utilizou-se um escore cuja pontuação possibilitou a classificação em nível bom, regular ou insuficiente. Para a automedicação, identificou-se a prevalência da prática, classes farmacológicas e medicamentos mais utilizados pelos pacientes, no âmbito odontológico. RESULTADOS: Dos 286 entrevistados, 164 (57%) eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 35 anos e renda familiar de 3,5 salários mínimos. Observou-se um índice de aproximadamente 10% de prescrições verbais, e em relação às prescrições escritas (n=258), identificou-se que 86% dos pacientes sabiam o nome do medicamento, 85% a freqüência de doses, 66% a indicação terapêutica e 65% a dose. Apenas 20% e 9% sabiam informar sobre precauções e efeitos adversos, respectivamente. Através do escore utilizado, 55% da amostra apresentou um nível de conhecimento regular, 34% insuficiente e 11% bom. Encontrou-se uma prevalência de 70% de automedicação, sendo as classes mais utilizadas os analgésicos (52%), antiinflamatórios não-esteróides (14%), relaxantes musculares (11%) e antibióticos (9%). Não houve associação entre a prática da automedicação e variáveis sócio-demográficas. CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos pacientes apresenta um nível de conhecimento suficiente a respeito das informações principais do tratamento, porém é necessária uma melhor comunicação entre dentista e paciente a fim de promover o uso racional de medicamentos. A alta prevalência de automedicação e não associação com características sócio-demográficas pode estar relacionada ao problema que geralmente motiva a busca do atendimento de urgência, a dor dental, que requer solução imediata e pode ser, em um primeiro momento, contornada com medicamentos de venda livre. Porém, deve-se ressaltar o percentual expressivo de medicamentos utilizados equivocadamente para tratar afecções bucais. / Dentists are responsible for drug prescribing, hence the importance of studies that aim to evaluate patients’ knowledge regarding their treatment. Another matter of concern in dentistry is the practice of self-medication. OBJECTIVES: To assess and describe the degree of patients’ knowledge regarding their prescribed medicine in emergency dental services located in Porto Alegre, Brazil; verify the occurence of verbal prescribing practice by dentists; assess prevalence of self-medication. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two emergency services, whose data were collected using a structured questionnaire after dental consultation. In order to evaluate the degree of patient’s knowlegde, a scoring system was used, which each variable was graded. The sum of the points produced three different levels: good, regular and insufficient. Regarding self-medication, the aim was to establish its prevalence and identify the most utilized medications before seeking the dentist. RESULTS: Of the 286 outpatients interviewed, 164 (57%) were female, with a 35 year-old average and family mean income of 3.5 minimal salaries. Around 10% of the patients received verbal prescription and of the 258 who were questioned concerning medication knowledge from written prescriptions, 86% identified correctly the drug’s name, 85% could tell the dose schedule, 66% knew the indication and 65% the correct dosage. Only 20% and 9% were able to inform aspects of precautions and adverse reactions, respectively. From scoring system results, 55% of the patients displayed a regular knowledge, 34% insufficient and 11% a good one. The prevalence of self-medication among patients was 70%, being analgesics (52%), nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (14%), muscle relaxants (11%) and antibiotics (9%) the most utilized groups. There was no association between self-medication and independent variables. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the patients showed a sufficient knowledge level concerning the primary aspects of drug treatment, however a better communication between dentists and pacients is required in order to promote rational drug use. The high prevalence of self-medication and its lack of association with socio-demographic variables might be related to the reason people usually seek the emergency department, that is dental pain, which requires immediate care and may be, on a first attempt, solved with OTC drugs. However, there was an expressive share of medication mistankely used for dental purposes.

The Health Sector at the state of Kuwait is facing many challenges. One of which is public expectations in health are high, and thus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kuwait has amplified the health expenditure by 86% since 2007. And since the medicine budget represents half of the total MOH budget, it is proposed that the development in health policy might be a suitable tool to control the inflation within the health budget. This thesis examines the opportunities and challenges of introducing an EML in Kuwait and the factors influencing its effectiveness. A mixed-methodology approach has been used to enhance and validate the data, in the form of interviews, comparative studies and questionnaires. One major limitation to the research was the lack of previous data relating to this work, and the information should be gathered in person in the form of hard copies, and later, the data was analysed using qualitative and quantitative approaches. It has been attained that, the EML might be a valuable tool if adopted and implemented appropriately, EML adjustment to country health situation is crucial for successful utilisation and fulfilling the concept objectives. Standard Treatment Guidelines are fundamental part of EM selection process, in Kuwait there were lack in the uniformity of the local STG, but fortunately, there is an eagerness to innovate, and the medicine situation might benefit from a type of organisation, overall, if the EML implemented efficiently in Kuwait, it might help in improving the general health and control the inflation in MOH budget.