AN ANALYSIS OF DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN ACNE VULGARIS,TINEA INFECTIONS AND ECZEMA PATIENTS VISITING AN OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background Skin is the largest and the most exposed organ of human body .The prevalence of Dermatophytosis ,Acne and Eczema is more in general population. This study was planned to evaluate the utilization pattern of drugs in Acne vulgaris, Tinea infections and Eczema and find out the cost of drug per prescription that the health care system spends for disease conditions under study. This study was an Observational study carried out in patients at Methods tending the Dermatology OPD. The data was collected from the prescriptions of patients after getting approval from Institutional Ethics Committee for a continuous period of one year. In present study, the average number of drugs Resultsprescribed per prescription in patients with Tinea infections, Acne Vulgaris and Eczema were 1.87, 1.43 and 2.4. The percentage of generic drugs prescribed were 100%.No any Fixed Drug Combinations, Multivitamins or Injectable drugs were used. The drugs prescribed from Essential Drug List were 100% for Tinea and Acne while 75% for eczema patients. The mean cost of drug per prescription for treatment of Tinea infection, Eczema and Acne vulgaris was Rs.6.86, Rs.7.96 and Rs.15.21 respectively. This study suggests t Conclusion- he prescribers to consider factors as polypharmacy, rationality of prescription and per prescription cost benefit before writing any prescriptions. There was a significant cost difference with respect to the previous study; with the current study finding cheaper alternatives for per prescription cost for treatment of said conditions.