Evaluation of Rational Drug Use Based on World Health Organization Core Drug Use Indicators at a Private Hospital of Western India: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Recent data from the National sample survey highlighted that many Indians prefer private hospitals over public hospitals for their healthcare needs. Hence, drug utilization research at private hospitals may help promote rational drug use, avoid risk to patient safety, and minimize pharmaceuticals wastage. The study aimed to evaluate the drugs prescription pattern using the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended prescribing indicators at a private hospital in Pune, India. The study was an observational, prospective, and cross-sectional study conducted at the out-patient department of a private hospital in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Total 1023 prescriptions from October 2020 to May 2021 were studied using WHO drug prescribing indicators. Microsoft Excel and SPSS v26.0 was used to capture and analyse the data of the study. A total of 3954 drugs were prescribed in 1023 prescriptions. The average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 3.9 (standard deviation: 1.3). Drugs prescribed by using the drug's generic name were 6.6%, the encounters with an antibiotic and an injection prescribed were 47.0% and 1.8%, respectively. The drugs prescribed from the Essential Drugs List (EDL) were 62.0%. Additionally, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed the most (17.7%), followed by antacids (17.3%) and vitamins and supplements drugs (17.0%). The study highlighted deviations in prescribing practices compared to WHO standards. The study suggests a need to train the physicians and implement the WHO prescribing indicator on a trial basis in private hospitals to develop policies to achieve a long-lasting benefit.