Prescribing pattern and WHO core prescribing indicators in post-operative patients of Gynaecology department of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Prescription pattern analysis is an essential tool to provide an insight regarding the existing drug usage and to ensure rational drug therapy. Even though drugs used for gynecological disorders are one of the commonly used, they are least studied in terms of prescribing patterns. Hence the present study was planned to analyze the prescribing pattern and WHO core prescribing indicators among post-operative patients of Gynaecology department in our institute. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 76 post-operative patients of Gynaecology department for a period of six months. Each prescription was analyzed for demographic data, total number and various categories of drugs prescribed, the percentage of individual drugs prescribed in each category, the dosage forms and the percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name, and from essential drug list were also analyzed. Results: A total of 990 medications were prescribed among which anti-microbial agents (32.52%) were the most commonly prescribed category followed by analgesics (19.60%) and Intravenous fluids (13.53%). Metronidazole (27.02%) was the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial, Diclofenac (68.04%) was the commonly prescribed analgesics and Ringer lactate (38.81%) was the commonly prescribed Intravenous fluid. Most commonly prescribed antiulcer drug was ranitidine (75.0%), antiemetic was Ondansetron (76.39%). Majority of drugs (72.54%) were prescribed by generic name. Average number of drugs per prescription was 13.03. Percentages of encounters with antibiotics were 32.52%. The percentage of drugs prescribed from the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) was 82.16%. Injection (57.78%) was the most common drug formulation. Conclusions: Antimicrobial agents and analgesics were the most commonly prescribed drugs. Prescription by generic name was high, usage of antibiotics and injections were also high and Poly-pharmacy was common, especially among antimicrobial agents. Prescribing according to the national essential list of medicines was high, which indicates rational prescription.