In the Swedish archetype project, we need to record medication
information with the medication archetype from the openEHR knowledge
repository. We have difficulties to decide on which archetype node to
use in the medication archetype
("openEHR-EHR-ITEM_TREE.medication.v1") for the name of the medication
and the ATC code. There are at least two possibilities here, both
"Name of the medication" and "Generic name of the medication" seems to
be possible. Should we use the "Name of medication" to keep the
medication name and use "Generic name" for ATC code or the other way
around?
Good question.
Here in the Netherlands I would argue that one chooses the generic name first since (at least GP’s) doctors have to prescribe drugs by their generic name. The idea behind this is that if drugs are ‘off patent’, the often more expensive ‘brand’ drugs aren’t prescribed automatically.
It might also be easier from a practical perspective that the generic name is prevailing: There is only one generic drug name per drug but their can be many brand/commercial names for the same drug, especially if it’s off patent. Especially with ‘older’ drug most doctors know the generic name, but don’t know all the brand/commercial names. See for instances how many brand drugs contain acetylsalicylic acid.
Dear Rong,
As a clinician, generic name is the manner we educate doctors and nurses in order to avoid the diversity of labelling of drugs producers and vendors.
The national approach is to use generic in the first isntance. That is the way we are using in our project
We are talking about this a great deal and I would suggest that we go ahead
with the review of this archetype together.
There needs to be a single name of the drug as prescribed - this may or may
not be generic. If the name is a Tradename a requirement to include the
generic name in the order has been proposed in our national program. That is
how it got to be like this.
The ATC code should be a mapping in the data I believe rather than a field
as it is a code and will need the terminology reference.
