Prescription audit in outpatient department of multispecialty hospital in western India: an observational study

Abstract

Background: Studying the prescribing audit is that part of the medical audit which seeks to monitor, evaluate and if necessary, suggest modifications in the prescribing practices of medical practitioners. Our objective was to study the Prescription Audit in Out Patient Department of in Multispecialty Hospital in western India. Methods: An Observational study was carried out during the period of 2012-2013. Total 150 prescriptions of Out-patient department were collected, scrutinized and statistically analyzed with Reporting procedures to pharmacy and quality department. We have also considered Statistical Process control (SPC) to provide the guidance on how the process may be improved by reducing variation & to assess the performance of a process. Results: Total 150 patients were evaluated for Prescription Audit, out of which 60% were Male & 40% were Female cases. In the same mainly 13 parameter were assessed according to the checklist provided by the Hospital with total 1950 (150*13) counts; from this 1126 Counts were under compliance, 74 Counts were non-compliance & 750 Counts were not applicable. 50 cases were analyzed for 3 months, showed better compliance rate of prescription audit parameters in February 2013 compared to December 2012, while non-compliance rate in prescription audit was reduced as time progresses. Conclusions: A definite role of clinical pharmacist, in the process control by utilizing SPC during prescription audit. The members of the hospital and Quality committee need to focus on findings of it, which help them during accreditation by regulatory authority.