Study of drug utilization pattern in the gynecology outpatient department of a rural tertiary care teaching hospital of Maharashtra

Abstract

ContextDrug utilization studies help medical practitioners and health policy makers to decide an individualized specific drug pattern for a particular disease or disease group.AimsThis study was planned to study drug utilization patterns among patients visiting the Gynecology Outpatient Department (OPD) of a rural tertiary care teaching hospital.Settings and designThis was a prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study conducted over 2 months in the gynecology Outpatient Department of a rural tertiary care teaching hospital in Maharashtra state.Patients and methodsA total of 200 prescriptions of patients were studied. Various prescribing indicators by WHO were used for the analysis.Statistical analysis usedStatistical analysis was primarily descriptive with values mainly expressed as percentages using Microsoft Excel.ResultsIn majority of the rural middle-aged patients, all patients received 3.8 drugs per encounter indicating a trend of polypharmacy. Majorly, the drugs were prescribed by brand names than generic names, which lead to extra cost to the patients. The most commonly reported diseases were reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory diseases, and dysmenorrhea. The most commonly prescribed groups of the drug were antibiotics majorly metronidazole, doxycycline followed by clindamycin followed by NSAIDs followed by iron, folic acid, and calcium.ConclusionIt can be concluded that physicians prescribe medicines based on their knowledge, previous experience with the drug, their perceptions, habits, and peer influences. Drug utilization studies like this are important for continuous approaches toward a positive change in the use of medicines and promotion of rational use of medicines in the community.