A descriptive, retrospective and cross sectional study was conducted to assess the prescribing practices and antibiotic use patterns in the Accident and Emergency department of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. A sample of 4320 prescriptions (systematic random sampling) was drawn out of a total of 1,080,000 prescriptions written during the period 1st January–31st December 2014. The standard World Health Organization/International Network for Rational Use of Drugs prescribing indicators were used to determine the prescribing practices of physicians. Published ideal standards for each of the indicators were used to identify irrational drug use. We also utilized an additional indicator to report the percentage share of antibiotics prescribed. The average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 2.3 (SD = 1.3) (optimal value 1.6–1.8). Drugs prescribed by generic name occurred 83.1% of the time (optimal value 100%). Antibiotics and injections were prescribed 52.4% (optimal value 20.0–26.8%) and 98.0% (optimal value 13.4–24.1%) of the time respectively. Drugs prescribed from the Essential Drugs List equated to 81.5% (optimal value 100%). Out of 52.4% (n = 2262) prescriptions with antibiotics prescribed, 77.7% (n = 1758) had one antibiotic, 22.1% (n = 499) included two antibiotics, and 0.2% (n = 5) had three antibiotics. Cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics (81.5%) followed by penicillins (6.4%) and fluoroquinolones (6.2%). Among the individual antibiotics, ceftriaxone contributed the highest percentage share at 71.8% followed by cefotaxime (5.6%) and metronidazole (4.7%). The most frequently prescribed antibiotic combination was ciprofloxacin with metronidazole (52.1%). Irrational prescribing practices were common. Continuous education and training of physicians is required to ensure rational prescribing at Bahawal Victoria Hospital in the future.

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Traffic rules are an important agenda for the developing countries and the situation has become worsened particularly in Pakistan. Most of the road accidents are resulting due to lack of knowledge, negative attitudes and risky practices of drivers towards traffic rules and regulations. To highlight the knowledge, attitude and practices of professional drivers towards traffic rules, this research work was initiated. The objective of research was to determine and explore the knowledge, attitudes and practice towards traffic regulations of professional drivers in Multan (Punjab), Pakistan, also to acquire the relationship between demographic features, Knowledge, attitudes and practices of professional drivers towards traffic rules. Emphasis had also been given to the primary data generation and allied aspects such as construction of the data gathering instrument (Questionnaire), content management, sampling, execution, testing and refinement of the instrument for getting hold of the quality data which ultimately determines quality of the ultimate research. The study explored that many of professional drivers in Multan (Pakistan) had inadequate knowledge, less positive attitudes and risky practices towards traffic regulations. Implementation of effective and standard intervention programs may increase the driver' s knowledge, positive attitudes and safe practices towards traffic rules and regulations. 159RIAZ & SHAHID: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Drivers Towards Traffc ules

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