Abstract
Prescription is a written order and direction by a registered physician to the pharmacist for the particular use of a medicine product for a patient. The aim of the research was to observe the prescription pattern of doctors in their chamber practice according to the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators. A total of 300 prescriptions of outdoor patients from various departments of different private chambers of medical practitioners were collected from 1st August to 31st October 2019 and were evaluated. After evaluation and data analysis we got, patients’ age and gender were not mentioned in 6% prescriptions. Dose and course of treatment were incomplete in 60%, 72%, and 52% of prescriptions respectively. Abbreviations were used in 100% prescriptions. Doctor’s medical registration number was mentioned in 13% prescriptions only. A total of 1042 drugs was prescribed in 300 prescriptions. The average number of drugs prescribed was 3.38±1.79 (Mean±SD). Most of the prescriptions contained a brand name (93.33%) of the drugs whereas only a few (6.7%) used the generic names (P<0.05). Antibiotics and injections were ordained in 64% and 8% cases respectively. Approximately 60% of drugs were prescribed according to the Essential Medicine List (EML) of Bangladesh. Our study has shown that very few physicians are acquainted and follow the WHO standard of prescribing which can lead to seriously negative health consequences. Moreover, the presence of antibiotics in two-third of all prescriptions should ring an alarm to prevent its aberrant use.
Highlights
Prescription is written medico-legal document by authorized person for the treatment of patient where each prescription should contain all the four elements, superscription, subscription, inscription and signature with registration number issued by medical council
Signature of the registered medical practitioner with their registration number at medical council should be written as last element of prescription
According to World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators includes number of drugs prescribing per prescription, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name, percentage of encounter by injection and antibiotics prescription and percentage of drugs prescribed from Essential Medicine List (EML)
Summary
Prescription is written medico-legal document by authorized person for the treatment of patient where each prescription should contain all the four elements, superscription, subscription, inscription and signature with registration number issued by medical council. The subscription of a prescription includes to the information of prescribed drugs such as dosage form, drug name, dose, number etc. Prescribing errors causes the irrational utilize of drugs and reduce patient compliance (Fijn et al, 2002). Irrational use of medicines is a global problem and common finding, in developing country like Bangladesh. The high cost of prescribed drug causes problems in developing countries like Bangladesh. This problem can be minimized by prescribing drugs by generic. According to WHO prescribing indicators includes number of drugs prescribing per prescription, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name, percentage of encounter by injection and antibiotics prescription and percentage of drugs prescribed from EML
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