Title: drUg UtIlIZatIon aMong sUrgIcal oUtpatIEnts
Abstract: Objectives: Drug utilization studies should be periodically performed in order to increase therapeutic efficacy, decrease adverse effects and provide feedback to prescribers to promote rational use of drugs. Systematic audit of prescriptions among surgical outpatients are lacking in hospitals in Western Nepal. The present study was carried out to obtain information on drug prescribing patterns, analyze the drug use using WHO/INRUD indicators and critically analyze the prescriptions using predetermined criteria. Material and methods: The study was carried out over a one-year period (from 01.01.2004 to 31.12.2004) at the Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. 595 prescriptions from the surgical outpatient department were selected for analysis. The age, sex and diagnosis of the patients were noted. The percentage of drugs prescribed from the essential drug lists and the mean cost of drugs per prescription was calculated. Results: 323 patients were male, 262 were female, while the sex was not written in 10 prescriptions. Injections and antibiotics were prescribed in 5.21% and 31.4% of encounters. Only 21.3% of drugs were prescribed by generic name. Antibiotics were most commonly prescribed, followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti ulcer drugs. Various problems were noted with 108 prescriptions (18.1%). The mean SD cost of drugs per prescription was 1.89 0.98 USD. Conclusions: Prescribing by generic name and from the essential drug lists should be encouraged. Educational sessions, especially for junior doctors, on the correct method of writing prescriptions, are required. Further studies are needed.
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 21
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