How vets prescribe: a look at small animal practices in Colombia

Abstract

Background: Medical prescriptions are essential in clinical care, ensuring the appropriate use of medications for patients. In veterinary medicine, they are crucial for treating companion animals, yet proper completion and application of these prescriptions have not been systematically studied in Colombia. Despite clear national regulations, there is a lack of research on veterinarians' practices in issuing medical prescriptions for pets, highlighting the need for improved training and adherence to standards. Objective: To describe and analyze how veterinary professionals prescribe treatments in their everyday practices, assessing adherence to the standards set by national regulations. Furthermore, our study intends to identify potential errors, inconsistencies, or practices that could impact patient health and the effectiveness of treatments. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from electronically generated prescriptions at a veterinary hospital for small animals in a university setting in Medellín (Colombia) in 2022. Compliance with national regulations required prescriptions to include specific information such as the veterinarian's details, patient identification, medication specifics, and clear instructions, all presented legibly in Spanish. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables of interest. Results: A total of 1,152 prescriptions were analyzed, resulting in 3,432 substances, of which 3,108 unique entries remained after eliminating 324 duplicates. Among these, 3,106 were classified as medications. The analysis revealed significant issues in prescription practices, with 9,559 instances of incorrect reporting of prescription components, 450 cases of invalid abbreviations, and 632 instances of invalid information. The most common errors included unclear indications (78.38%), absence of quantity (in number) (73.75%), and undefined pharmaceutical forms (58.04%). Conclusion: This study enhances veterinary practices and proposes training strategies to ensure compliance with regulations. It is vital for hospitals’ role in training veterinary students, influencing their future decisions and public health. The goal is to promote rational medication use for companion animals, improve animal welfare, and strengthen veterinary medicine in Colombia.