What should be updated in the WHO guide to good prescribing?
PURPOSE: Over 30 years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Guide to Good Prescribing (GGP) with its accompanying six-step model for rational prescribing. While widely used and proven effective in teaching clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (CPT), the GGP has never been revised to reflect scientific, societal, technological, and educational developments. The aim of this study was to explore which elements could be revised to actualize its content. METHODS: CPT teachers experienced with the GGP were recruited from all six WHO regions. Six online nominal group technique sessions were conducted to elicit and prioritize ideas for revising the GGP. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using an inductive thematic approach to capture participants' views on both content and optimal format of the renewed GGP. RESULTS: Twenty-six participants shared136 ideas for the revision, grouped into three main areas: ideas about the usability, accessibility, and awareness of the GGP; ideas about the six-step framework; and ideas about background information or supplementary chapters. Suggestions for improving usability emphasized an interactive, digital platform for accessibility, continuous updates, and integrated resources. Regarding the six-step model, participants recommended retaining its structure while incorporating key considerations such as pharmacovigilance, shared decision-making, and deprescribing. Lastly, participants proposed supplementary information on topics such as therapeutic reasoning and special patient populations. CONCLUSION: Suggestions for revising the WHO GGP included integrating contemporary and societal prescribing considerations to enhance its relevance, educational impact and usability, thereby supporting safe and effective prescribing in modern clinical practice.
Authors
- Emílio J. Sanz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6788-4435)
- Markus Schwaninger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4510-9718)
- Erik M. Donker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8169-0714)
- Michiel A. van Agtmael (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7966-6934)
- Yoann Cazaubon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1032-0879)
- Yves‐Marie Pers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5927-3773)
- Floor van Rosse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6194-3964)
- Walter Raasch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8781-2997)
- Ellen Van Leeuwen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3155-4095)
- Thu Phan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0532-8723)
- Robert Likić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1413-4862)
- Susanna Maria Wallerstedt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7238-1680)
- Milan C. Richir (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5523-083X)
- Joost D. Piët (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7380-4876)
- Jelle Tichelaar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7485-9219)
- Michiel J. Bakkum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0928-812X)
- Mariëlle G. Hartjes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7595-2570)
- Jitka Rychlíčková (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5764-5326)
- Fabrizio De Ponti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0367-9595)
- Fleur M.W. Hendriksen
Institutions
- University Hospital Centre Zagreb (HR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Universidad de La Laguna (ES)
- University of Zagreb (HR)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Masaryk University (CZ)
- Hospital Universitario de Canarias (ES)
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
- Erasmus MC (NL)
- University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
- Ghent University (BE)
- Region Västra Götaland (SE)
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine & Biotherapy (FR)
- Hôpital Lapeyronie (FR)
- Health & Safety in Sports (NL)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- University of Lübeck (DE)
- University of Bologna (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
- Published
- 2026-10-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-026-04198-1
- Primary Topic
- Pharmacy and Medical Practices
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Erasmus+