Re: [Gnumed-devel] proper English term needed for medication

[Jim Busser]

On 2009-10-29, at 1:37 AM, Karsten Hilbert wrote:

> > > So "regular medication" seems to fit the bill.
> >
> > Even for drugs used irregularly (episodically, and prn)?
>
> That is the catch: While "Dauer" in German does not imply
> anything about the actual regimen of intake it does imply
> permanency of approval to ingest.
>
> "regular"
>
>         seems to imply "regular*ly* taken"
>
> "ongoing"
>
>         seems to imply "currently being taken"
>
> "repeat"
>
>         suffers from administration mix,
>         "acute" meds can also need repeat prescriptions
>
> "chronic"
>
>         seems to carry too much diagnostic connotation
>
> "long-term"
>
>         I'll probably best use this in the backend for the column name
>         as it nicely implies "expected to be taken for a long but rather
>         indefinite duration"
>
>         We can still try to find the best term (if possible)
>         to use in the client.
>
> "permanent"
>
>         seems to imply too much finality
>
> "perpetual"
>
>         seems in less common use than other terms

Another benefit of long-term is that it nicely balances against short- 
term. Any given medication is one or the other, or null. Null may be  
desirable for non-prescribed medications or substances since you may  
like to not be having to classify unapproved substances on intended  
duration. Also better to not second-guess an external specialist  
(provider's) medication treatment plan although if it had been  
properly communicated -- or at at the point where the GP inherits or  
takes responsibility -- the classification could be done.