Assessment of Prescription Completeness and Drug Use Pattern in Tibebe-Ghion Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction. Irrational medicine use is a global problem, and one of its manifestation is inappropriate prescribing that occurs when medicines are not prescribed in accordance with the guideline. Objective. The aim of the study was to assess prescription completeness and drug use pattern of the hospital using the WHO core drug use indicators. Methods. 1000 prescriptions were collected retrospectively from prescriptions written for 1 year from outpatient pharmacies of the hospital. Exit interview was employed to assess patient care indicators. The health facility indicators were checked by assessing the presence of drug formulary and availability of key medicines at the facility. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results. It was found that only name of the patients was filled in all the prescriptions. Other informations were below the standard. The average number of drugs per prescription was 1.65. Percentages of encounter by generic name, with antibiotic and injections, were 85.78%, 41%, and 25%, respectively. The percentage of drugs prescribed from an essential drug list was 98.48%. The mean consultation time and dispensing time were 14.49 and 2.16 minutes, respectively. More than half patients had knowledge on drug dispensed to them (68%). The percentage of drugs actually dispensed was 65%, but none of the drugs dispensed were adequately labelled. A copy of EDL and 84% of the key drugs were available in the hospital. Conclusion. From the results of our study, it can be concluded that all prescriptions were not complete, and except the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter, the other drug use pattern indicators were out of the WHO recommendation. Therefore, effective intervention program, like training, for promotion of rational drug use practice was recommended.

<p>Assessment of Drug Use Pattern Using WHO Core Prescribing Indicators at Outpatient Settings of Governmental Hospitals in Dessie Town</p>

“…16 However, the finding is lower as compared to the study done in Harar (32.7%) and higher than a finding from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia (8.3%) and Jimma Ethiopia (11.45%). 13 , 17 , 18 In the present study, route of drug administration was written in 82.2% of prescription papers which is relatively comparable with previous findings from Harar, Ethiopia (81.8%) but lower compared to other similar studies which reported between 87.6–93.1%. 12 , 16 , 18 About 93.3% prescription papers revealed frequency of drug administration, which is higher than previous similar studies conducted at different corners of Ethiopia with a percentage report of 6.4–92.2%.…”

“…In the present study, a total of 2409 drugs were prescribed for 1200 patients who visited the outpatient pharmacy of DRH and BMH which give rise to an average of 2.01 drugs prescribed per encounter which is higher than the WHO standard (1.6–1.8) 6 and also findings from similar studies conducted in many parts of Ethiopia which reported average number of drugs per encounter between 1.64 and 1.9. 12 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 22–25 On the other hand, this finding is lower than many other study findings which identified an average value of 2.17–4.18 drugs per encounter. 1 , 13 , 19–21 , 26–38 Polypharmacy may expose patients to ADRs and will incur additional costs on patients and hence prescribers should be limited prescribing drugs when only necessary.…”

“…Regarding sex of patients, 93.2% of prescription papers in the present study revealed sex, a finding higher than findings from similar studies 13–15 , 20 and lower than some other studies conducted in Ethiopia and beyond. 12 , 16 , 17 In the present study, weight of patients was recorded in only 1.1% of the prescription papers, which is a very poor practice revealed by the investigators. This finding is comparable with findings reported from previous Ethiopian studies which reported a percentage from 0 to 1%.…”

“…This finding is comparable with findings reported from previous Ethiopian studies which reported a percentage from 0 to 1%. 12 , 13 , 15 , 17 One Ethiopian study, however reported a higher result, 7.3%. 16 Failure to write weight of patients may be due to inadequate availability of weighing balance to the prescribers in the study settings.…”

“…15 The result is, however higher than similar study findings conducted in Ethiopia and India, 14 , 19 , 20 and lower compared to other similar studies conducted elsewhere. 12 , 16 , 17 Age is an important variable implicated in dose calculations and selection of appropriate dosage forms, particularly for the pediatric population. Regarding sex of patients, 93.2% of prescription papers in the present study revealed sex, a finding higher than findings from similar studies 13–15 , 20 and lower than some other studies conducted in Ethiopia and beyond.…”