The quality of prescription drug utilization five years after the 2003 Bam earthquake.

PURPOSE: Few reports considering drug use among earthquake survivors exist. The present study aims to examine the Bam earthquake's impact on prescribing patterns and drug use among residents five years post-disaster.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: In this study, 297,104 prescriptions, issued by general practitioners in Bam city in 2008, were investigated for drugs/prescriptions, drug name, drug category, using WHO appropriate general practice prescribing indicators.

FINDINGS: Mean drugs per prescription was 3.1. Drugs affecting the central nervous system were the most frequently used among Bam residents, representing 25.1 per cent, followed by antimicrobials, respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract drugs. Benzodiazepines were the most frequently used central nervous system drugs (15.8 per cent) followed by narcotic analgesics and tricyclic antidepressants. Penicillins (6.4 per cent) and cephalosporines (2.3 per cent) were the most frequently used antimicrobial drugs.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Results emphasize increased drug use for psychological disturbances and the need for strategies to improve mental health among disaster survivors.