Prescription analysis for patients with upper respiratory tract infections at tertiary referral center in Anand

Abstract

It is a cross sectional study conducted at outpatient department (OPD) in Shree Krishna Hospital, Anand, Gujarat during the month of September to October, 2012. Patients, who have temperature greater than or equal to 99°F analyzed by the physician in Medicine OPD.A total of 451 medicines were prescribed to 101 patients during the 2 months study period. The mean number of medicines per prescription was found to be 4.46. Oral route was the most preferred mode of administration. Monotherapy therapy (95.50%) was more prevalent than combination therapy (4.50%). An overwhelming tendency for prescribing medicines by brand names (58%) was observed by the physicians. The most frequently prescribed class of medicines were antipyretics>;antihistaminic>;anti‐ulcer >;antimicrobials >; gargles >; expectorants. Non traditional methods of treatment such as warm saline gargles and steam inhalation was profoundly practiced.There is a considerable scope of improvement in the existing prescribing practice, especially prescribing by generic names, needs to be encouraged and a hospital formulary has to be upgraded accordingly. The number of medicines to be included per prescription should be judged and polypharmacy ought to be curbed. Usage of medicines also needs to be rationalized as over usage may lead to the drug interactions and noncompliance.