Objective Ð To investigate drug use and prescribing by physicians in Cambodia. Material and methods Ð Ten physicians at the hospital were interviewed. Results Ð Two (20%) physicians prescribed frusemide and digoxin for congestive cardiac failure, two (20%) physicians frusemide, digoxin, nitrate and ACE-inhibitor (angiotensin-converting enzyme), four (40%) frusemide, digoxin and ACE inhibitor, one (10%) frusemide and ACE inhibitor, and one (10%) only ACE inhibitor. Four (40%) physicians prescribed tetracycline and quinine, one (10%) only me¯oquine, one (10%) me¯oquine, quinine and artemether or artesunate, two (20%) quinine, one (10%) quinine and artemether or artesunate, and one (10%) chloroquine, tetracycline and quinine for malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. For malaria due to Plasmodium vivax eight (80%) physicians prescribed chloroquine and two (20%) chloroquine and artemether or artesunate. Eight (80%) physicians prescribed 200 mg isoniazide for an adult patient for tuberculosis, one (10%) 300 mg, and one (10%) 100 mg. Eight (80%) physicians prescribed intravenous ¯uids for `tiredness'.
Ten (100%) physicians prescribed bisolvone syrup for `cough'. Seven (70%) physicians prescribed all intravenous drugs oered: vitamin C, an antispasmodic ( phlorglucinol) and calcium (other than for hypocalcaemia), One (10%) prescribed vitamin C and an antispasmodic ( phlorglucinol), 1 (10%) prescribed only an antispasmodic ( phlorglucinol), and one (10%) vitamin C and calcium.
Two (20%) physicians prescribed all intravenous drugs oered: co-dergocrine mesylate (Hydergine), ethamsylate, diazochrome and cimetidine, three (30%) physicians co-dergocrine mesylate and cimetidine, four (40%) co-dergocrine mesylate, ethamsylate and cimetide, and one (10%) cimetide only.
Conclusion Ð Cambodian physicians use drugs of unproven ecacy, symptomatic treatment for tiredness and cough, and drug regimen and doses for tuberculosis, malaria and congestive cardiac failure not recommended by national guidelines and standard textbooks.
Information about drug therapy and drugs should be provided. Treatment guidelines should be set up by clinicians, scientists and health care planners, for e.g. tuberculosis and malaria, and adherence in clinical practice should be supported.