Abstract
Background: In order to promote rational drug use in developing countries, assessment of drug use pattern using the World Health Organization drug use indicators is important. The aim of this study was to assess the drug prescription patterns at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, using some of the World Health Organization core drug use indicators.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in order to determine current prescribing trends at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. A total of 605 prescriptions were collected and analyzed in the study.Results: The average number of drugs per prescription was 5.85 considering the total amount of prescriptions. Furthermore, assuming each prescription as an individual patient, 64.1% of patients received antibiotics, and 71% of patients received injectable form of drugs. Among antibiotics the most common antibiotics prescribed were Ceftriaxone, Amoxicillin/Cloxacillin, Azithromycin, Cefixime, and Cloxacillin. Only 16.94% of the medicines were prescribed in generic names with the rest 83.06% of the medicines being prescribed in brand names and 47.55% of medicines prescribed were from the National List of Essential Medicines-Nepal.Conclusions: The current study revealed that polypharmacy and prescription writing using brand names were common. Prescriptions writing in generic nameneeds to be promoted and encouraged. There appears to be a crucial need for the development of prescribing guidelines when it comes to antibiotics.
Highlights
Pharmacotherapy has been the mainstay of treatment since ages
Evaluation of drug use patterns with World Health Organization (WHO) drug use indicators is an obligatory step for promoting rational use of drugs
In order to encourage rational drug use, it is necessary to find out and describe the various ways in which the drug use is irrational like the polypharmacy, overuse of antibiotics and injectables, to name a few
Summary
Pharmacotherapy has been the mainstay of treatment since ages. despite this long practice, irrational use of medicines is a worldwide issue and World Health Organization (WHO) is advocating the rational use of medicines.[1]One of the core policies to promote rational drug use is the supervision, audit and feedback.[1]. Pharmacotherapy has been the mainstay of treatment since ages Despite this long practice, irrational use of medicines is a worldwide issue and World Health Organization (WHO) is advocating the rational use of medicines.[1]. Among various well-established survey methods available, one such evaluation method is patient care survey utilizing the WHO health facility drug use indicators. Such quantitative indicators are accepted as a universal standard for problem detection and have been widely used in over 30 developing nations.[2]. In order to promote rational drug use in developing countries, assessment of drug use pattern using the World Health Organization drug use indicators is important.The aim of this study was to assess the drug prescription patterns at Kathmandu Medical CollegeTeaching Hospital, using some of theWorld Health Organization core drug use indicators
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
