Abstract
Purpose : The objective of this study was to evaluate drug utilization pattern in the pediatric departments of two tertiary health facilities in Nigeria using WHO core prescribing indicators. Methods : Using a cross-sectional retrospective study approach, prescriptions randomly selected for a period of 6 months from the pediatric out-patient departments of two tertiary hospitals: Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi in South- Eastern Nigeria were assessed. Prescribing indicators as listed by WHO were calculated and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results : A total of 750 prescriptions (450 from NAUTH and 300 from COOUTH) containing 2,739 drugs were assessed. The mean number of drugs prescribed per encounter (mean ± SD) at NAUTH was 3.5 ± 0.9 and 3.8 ± 1.1 in COOUTH. The percentage of antibiotics prescribed per encounter in COOUTH and NAUTH were 72.3 and 77.1 %, respectively, whereas drugs prescribed by generic names were 61.7 and 64.2 %, respectively. Injections prescribed per encounter were above acceptable range, and percentages of drugs prescribed from essential medicine lists in the two hospitals were > 85 %. Conclusion: This study identified irrational use of antibiotics, polypharmacy, non-adherence to generic prescribing and high use of injections in both hospitals. The need for improvement in prescription patterns is underscored. Keywords : Prescription pattern, Pediatric outpatients, WHO indicators, Irrational use, Antibiotics, Polypharmacy
Highlights
Frequent drug utilization review is necessary to provide knowledge of current drug use patterns necessary for improvement of prescribing habits and promotion of rational drug use [1]
The percentages of encounter with an antibiotic prescribed in both hospitals were similar: 77.1 % for Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) and 72.3 % for Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH)
The percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 65.3 % in NAUTH and 62.5 % in COOUTH
Summary
Frequent drug utilization review is necessary to provide knowledge of current drug use patterns necessary for improvement of prescribing habits and promotion of rational drug use [1]. The high incidence of death seen in children may be due to the fact that most medications used in the care of this group of patients are formulated and packaged primarily for adults and children may not be able to communicate effectively with providers [6]. Children’s renal, immune and hepatic functions are not well developed, creating pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences that predispose them to adverse drugs reactions and drug harm [6,9]. In view of these problems, there is need for good evidencebased prescribing to ensure appropriate use of drugs in patients and patient safety
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