Abstract
BackgroundProper utilization of medicines is a critical component of pharmaceutical care plan. The aim of this study was to assess drug use pattern at ten primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) of the Bahawalpur district of the Punjab province of Pakistan by employing the WHO/INRUD core drug use indicators.MethodsThis was a descriptive, non-experimental and cross-sectional study. For the prescribing indicators, 1000 prescriptions (100 prescriptions per PHCC) were systematically sampled out of the total 290,000 prescriptions written during January to December 2014. A total of 300 randomly selected patients (30 per PHCC) and 10 pharmacy personnel (one per PHCC) were observed and interviewed to investigate the patient-care and facility-specific indicators, respectively. We used published ideal standards for each of the WHO/INRUD indicators.ResultsAmong the prescribing indicators, the average number of drugs per encounter was 3.4 (SD = 0.8) (optimal range = 1.6–1.8), the drugs prescribed by the generic name were 71.6% (optimal value = 100%), the encounters with an antibiotic prescribed were 48.9% (optimal range = 20.0–26.8%), the encounters with an injection prescribed were 27.1% (optimal range = 13.4–24.1%) and the drugs prescribed from the Essential Drugs List (EDL) were 93.4% (optimal value = 100%). Among the patient-care indicators, the average consultation time was 2.2 min (SD = 0.8) (optimal value ≥10 min), the average dispensing time was 38 s (SD = 12.1) (optimal value ≥90 s), the percentage of drugs actually dispensed was 90.9% (optimal value = 100%), the percentage of drugs adequately labeled was 100% (optimal value = 100%) and the patients’ knowledge of correct dosage was 62.1% (optimal value = 100%). Among the facility-specific indicators, all PHCCs had a copy of the EDL and the key drugs available in the stock were 82% (optimal value = 100%).ConclusionsIrrational use of drugs was observed in all healthcare facilities. This study necessitates the need to implement the WHO/INRUD recommended 12 core interventions to promote rational use of medicines.
Highlights
Proper utilization of medicines is a critical component of pharmaceutical care plan
The percentage of drugs prescribed from the Essential Drugs List (EDL) was 93.4% (SD = 7.1)
The difference among the Primary Healthcare Center (PHCC) was statistically significant for all prescribing indicators (Table 2)
Summary
Proper utilization of medicines is a critical component of pharmaceutical care plan. The aim of this study was to assess drug use pattern at ten primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) of the Bahawalpur district of the Punjab province of Pakistan by employing the WHO/INRUD core drug use indicators. Appropriate use of medicines is essential to provide better health and medical care to patients and to the community as a whole [1]. World Health Organization (WHO) defines rational use of medicines as “patients receive medications appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their own individual requirements, for an adequate period of time, and at the lowest cost to them and their community” [2]. Studies have showed that over 50% of all medicines worldwide are prescribed or sold incorrectly and 50% of the patients are unable to use them correctly [3]. Irrational prescribing practices result in unsafe and ineffective treatment, aggravation or prolongation of disease state, harm and distress to the patients and increased costs [4, 5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
