Table 3.

Scale properties of the Prescription Quality Index in chronic diseases

No.	Criterion	Weighted scale	Mean	SD
1	Is there an indication for the drug?	0–2–4	2.8	1.5
2	Is the dosage correct?	0–2–4	3.0	1.7
3	Is the medication effective for the condition?	0–1–2	1.8	0.5
4	Is the usage of the drug for the indication supported by evidence?	0–1–2	2.0	0.2
5	Are the directions for administration correct?	0–1–2	0.2	0.5
6	Are the directions for administration practical?	0–1–2	1.8	0.6
7	Are there clinically significant drug–drug interactions?	0–1–2	1.6	0.6
8	Are there clinically significant drug–disease/condition interactions?	0–2	1.8	0.7
9	Does the patient experience any adverse drug reaction?	0–1–2	1.8	0.5
10	Is there unnecessary duplication with other drug(s)?	0–1	1.0	0.1
11	Is the duration of therapy acceptable?	0–1–2	1.3	0.8
12	Is this drug the cheapest compared with other alternatives for the same indication?	0–1	0.2	0.4
13	Is the medication being prescribed by generic name?	0–1	0.6	0.5
14	Is the medication available in the formulary or essential drug list?	0–1	1.0	0.2
15	Does the patient comply with the drug treatment?	0–2	0.6	0.9
16	Is the medication's name on the prescription clearly written?	0–1–2	1.8	0.4
17	Is the prescriber's writing on the prescription legible?	0–1–2	2.0	0.2
18	Is the prescriber's information on the prescription adequate?	0–2	1.5	0.9
19	Is the patient's information on the prescription adequate?	0–1–2	1.0	0.3
20	Is the diagnosis on the prescription clearly written?	0–1–2	0.9	0.5
21	Does the prescription fulfil the patient's requirement for drug therapy?	0–1	1.0	0.2
22	Has the patient's condition(s) improved with treatment?	0–1–2	0.7	0.9

SD, standard deviation.