What does DUR stand for in pharmacy practice?

In pharmacy practice, DUR stands for Drug Utilization Review. This process involves evaluating medication prescriptions for appropriateness, safety, and effectiveness, ensuring that the prescribed drugs are suitable for the patient’s specific health condition and history. DUR aims to optimize therapeutic outcomes, prevent drug interactions, and minimize potential side effects by reviewing a patient’s medication history, current medications, and relevant clinical information.

The Drug Utilization Review can be part of a broader quality assurance process within healthcare, allowing pharmacists to identify any discrepancies, such as overuse, underuse, or misuse of medications. Thus, it plays a critical role in promoting safe and effective medication use, ultimately improving patient care.

The other terms, while they may sound related, do not accurately capture the comprehensive nature of what DUR represents in the context of pharmacy practice. They may refer to specific aspects of drug management but do not encompass the broader review process that considers various factors affecting patient care.