Background: Infants and children suffer from frequent but usually non serious illnesses and are more vulnerable to various adverse events related to drugs and poor understanding of instructions on prescription by the patient or caretakers were likely to cause medication error. The correct identification of an illness and its management with medications is a vital aspect of patient care, especially for paediatric population. So, prescribing pattern studies are very helpful in promoting the appropriate use of drugs in population. Objectives: It aims to obtain data on the current prescribing pattern in pediatric OPD at a tertiary care teaching hospital with ultimate goal to promote appropriate use of drugs. Methods: This study was conducted in 62 pediatric patients of either sex visiting Pediatric out-patient department over a period of three months at NMCH and RC, Raichur, Karnataka. Results: Prescription analysis showed that the average number of drugs per prescription was 3.32. Drugs were mostly prescribed by brand name (98.06%), Injections (4.83%) were least prescribed, drugs prescribed from Essential Drug List was 48.54%. Antibiotics were most prescribed class of drugs (33.9%). Conclusion: The study concludes that polypharmacy was slightly seen in prescriptions. Diagnosis of the patient was recorded for most of the prescriptions. There is need to conduct many such studies at regular interval as it is useful for auditing large number of prescriptions to find out early signals of the irrational drug use. Our study evaluated drug use pattern only from the outpatients hence prescription pattern may vary among inpatients. Keywords: Prescribing pattern, Infants, WHO core prescribing indicators, Polypharmacy, Generic name

Rifampicin biodegradable microcapsules were prepared by feasible emulsification-ionic gelation method for a novel controlled release product. Sodium alginate and Carbopol 974P were used as coating polymers in different ratios 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 to obtain elegant microcapsules. The formulations were characterized for encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, sieve analysis, scanning electron microscopy and in vitro release studies. The microcapsules were discrete, large, almost spherical and free flowing with encapsulation efficiency in the range of 75% to 89%, drug loading 75% to 86% and size 440 μm to 500 μm. Rifampicin release from these microcapsules was slow and extended over longer periods of time depending on the polymer coat. Drug release was diffusion controlled and followed first order kinetics. The formulation MC1 with a coating ratio of 1:1 (Sodium alginate: Carbopol 974P) was found to be suitable for oral controlled release.

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity around the world, infecting approximately 8 billion people, with an annual death rate of close to 1 million. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of tuberculosis treatment on health related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with active and inactive tuberculosis by evolving HRQoL questionnaire (SF-36v2). Methodology: A prospective follow-up study was conducted for total 70 patients (56 men and 14 women) diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in Navodaya Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Raichur for a period of 6 months. The HRQoL of TB patients was assessed in three phases: at the onset of treatment, at one month (middle of intensive phase) and two months (end of intensive phase), after the initiation of anti-tuberculosis therapy. Results: A total of 70 patients completed the SF-36v2 questionnaire at the start of their treatment. Out of these, 53 and 41 completed the questionnaire at the second and third follow-ups, respectively. The mean physical component summary (PCS) scores at the start of the treatment, after one month and at the intensive phase were 42.09 ± 16.77, 53.89 ± 13.64 and 65.24 ± 12.86, respectively. Similarly, the mean mental component summary (MCS) scores at the start of the treatment, after one month and at the intensive phase were 43 ± 17.07, 52.19 ± 14.12 and 62.17 ± 15.12, respectively. Conclusion: The HRQoL improved with the treatment, the scores on component summary measures revealed the improvement of both physical and mental health among study patients at the end of intensive phase.

Background: Anemia is a major public health problem in India affecting people in all age groups with major consequences for human health as well as economic development. Hence the study aims to assess prescribing pattern of physicians in anemia and to create awareness among in-patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: A prospective and observational study was carried out in 180 in-patients admitted to General Medicine department in a tertiary care teaching hospital diagnosed with anemia for 6 months. Data was collected from case sheets of patients and assessed for prescribing pattern and direct interview was conducted with patients using standardized KAP questionnaire on anemia.Results: Among 180 in-patients, 126 patients (70%) were females and 54 patients (30%) were males. As part of the therapy, folic acid with vitamin combinations (37 prescriptions) followed by elemental iron with folic acid combinations (32 prescriptions) were most prescribed drugs. KAP questions were scored appropriately and compared with hemoglobin levels. Knowledge level of patients was not significantly correlated (i.e., p=0.254) with their haemoglobin levels. There was a highly significant positive correlation (i.e., p=0.006) between attitude scores of patients and haemoglobin levels. A significant positive correlation (i.e., p=0.001) was found between practice scores of patients and hemoglobin levels.Conclusions: This study clearly showed that prescribing pattern of drugs in anemia patients’ needs to be continuously evaluated. To address the issue of anemia, the patient’s awareness should be enhanced.

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) has defined drug utilization in 1977 as marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs in a society with special emphasis on the resultant medical and social consequences. It should be evaluated periodically to increase the therapeutic efficacy and decrease adverse effects. Objectives:The aim of study is obtain data on the current prescribing pattern and drug utilisation trend of ophthalmologist in a tertiary care teaching hospital with ultimate goal to promote appropriate use of drugs. Methods: This prospective interventional study was conducted in 272 patients of either sex visiting Ophthalmology outpatient department over a period of six months at NMCH and RC, Raichur, Karnataka. The data collected from data collection form was analysed with the help of WHO prescribing indicators and evaluated using descriptive statistics. Results: Prescription analysis showed that the average number of drugs per prescription was 2.45. Drugs were mostly prescribed by brand name (98.5%), Eye drops (69%) were most prescribed dosage form, Injections (0.75%) were least prescribed, drugs prescribed from Essential Drug List was 50.9%. Antibiotics were most prescribed class of drugs (49.62%). Dosage form, frequency and duration of therapy were recorded in 100%, 95.5% and 84% of prescriptions. Conclusion: Polypharmacy was slightly seen in prescriptions. Antibiotics were highly used. The most commonly prescribed dosage form was eye drops. Half of drugs were prescribed from Essential drug list (EDL). Physicians preferred branded drugs rather than generic drugs. Diagnosis of the patient was not recorded for most of the prescriptions.