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Consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Serbia: a comparison with Croatia and Denmark during 2005–2008

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An Erratum to this article was published on 04 August 2011

Abstract

Purpose

To analyze the amount and pattern of use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in Serbia and to compare these parameters with those in Croatia and Denmark. The prescribing pattern of NSAIDs in Serbia as a direct indicator of physicians’ knowledge of these agents was also assessed.

Methods

The use of NSAIDs in Serbia, Croatia, and Denmark was analyzed during a 4-year period (2005–2008). Data were retrieved from the annual reports of the Agency for Drugs and Medical Devices of Serbia, Croatia, and Denmark. Data on prescribing behavior were obtained from the Health Insurance Fund of Serbia and represent NSAIDs issued by prescription between 2005 and 2008. Results were expressed as the number of defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day. The drug utilization 90% method was also used.

Results

The total consumption of NSAIDs in Serbia was higher than that in Croatia and Denmark. Diclofenac accounted for approximately 50% of NSAID consumption during the observation period, followed (in much smaller quantities) by ibuprofen. The most commonly prescribed medicine was diclofenac, followed, in much smaller amounts, by ibuprofen. There was no trend of a reduced consumption of diclofenac or of an increased use of ibuprofen during the study period

Conclusions

These data suggest that factors other than evidence-based medicine have a dominant effect on the use of NSAIDs in Serbia. Targeted education from independent sources in the prescribing, dispensing, and use of drugs is important to improve the quality of the prescribing behavior and the use of NSAIDs.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Vesna Mijatović, Jelena Ćalasan, Olga Horvat & Ana Sabo

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Podgorica, Montenegro

    Zdenko Tomić

  3. Republic Institute for Health Insurance of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

    Vukašin Radulović

Authors
  1. Vesna Mijatović
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  2. Jelena Ćalasan
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  3. Olga Horvat
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  4. Ana Sabo
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  5. Zdenko Tomić
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  6. Vukašin Radulović
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vesna Mijatović.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-011-1104-6

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Mijatović, V., Ćalasan, J., Horvat, O. et al. Consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Serbia: a comparison with Croatia and Denmark during 2005–2008. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 67, 203–207 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0951-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0951-x

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