RT Journal
A1 Schiff GD, Galanter WL
T1 PRomoting more conservative prescribing
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2009
FD February 25
VO 301
IS 8
SP 865
OP 867
DO 10.1001/jama.2009.195
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.195
AB 
Although medical and pharmacy curricula and journals are rich with information about drugs and treatment of specific diseases, there is a paucity of education on ways to become effective lifetime prescribers. Two recent reports from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) lamented the current state of pharmacology teaching1 and the disturbing extent of pharmaceutical industry influence at all stages of medical education.2 Given the well-documented prevalence of medication-related harm and inappropriate prescribing,3- 4 such educational reform is necessary but not sufficient to ensure that patients are optimally treated. Beyond improved training in pharmacology and minimization of unbalanced industry-sponsored education, trainees need guiding principles to inform their thinking about pharmacotherapy to help them become more careful, cautious, evidence-based prescribers.