What Is a Clinical Indication?

Why add the reason to a prescription?

Clinical indication labelling is a simple and direct way to communicate with patients about their medicines. Many elderly people are on over ten different medications, and it is easy for them to become confused about what each medicine is for. Drugs often have a variety of uses, and a precise reason can avoid confusion, especially if drug insert leaflets are read.

Some examples

• Atenolol “to prevent migraine”. The same drug can be prescribed “to lower blood pressure”, “to prevent palpitations” or “to prevent angina”, so the phrase says which.
• Aspirin dispersible “to prevent heart attacks and strokes”.
• Allopurinol “to prevent gout”.
• Salbutamol inhaler “to relieve asthma symptoms (blue inhaler)”.
• A safety message can be added too: the contraceptive pill “yearly blood pressure check required”.

The Sample Directory lists the phrases for several hundred commonly prescribed medicines.

Can it help avoid prescribing errors?

Indication labelling ensures the correct drug is issued for the correct condition. Drugs with similar names can be prescribed in error, such as carbimazole for thyrotoxicosis and carbamazepine for epilepsy, and this is less likely to happen with indication labelling.

What if a patient would rather not have it?

Some indications cover sensitive issues, so patients should be asked whether they agree to the information being placed on the prescription. Patients who do not wish to have a clinical indication recorded can have the phrase “patient preference no clinical indication” on their repeat prescription.

What does the GMC say?

The General Medical Council’s prescribing guidance for doctors advises: “As well, you should consider including clinical indications on your prescriptions.” Read what the guidance says.

How do I start?

The FAQs explain how to get started, beginning with patient groups such as the over 75s, and how the method works in practice.