Drug Utilization Pattern in Paediatric Patients in a Secondary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective:The study was carried out to generate research on drug utilization pattern in paediatric patients in government headquarters hospital, Tiruppur, Tamilnadu, India using world health organization (WHO) and international network for rational use of drugs (INRUD) core indicator. Methods:The core prescribing indicators of the world health organization was used to assess the appropriate use of drugs. Index of rational drug prescribing (IRDP) developed by Zhang and Zhi was also used to find out the performance of a health care system in terms of drug utilization. Results:Out of 859 drugs in 200 cases the highest prescribed drug class is antibiotics 304(35.39%) and the majority of drugs were administered in injectable form 412(47.94%). It was analysed that a majority of prescriptions 117(58.5%) were discharged in between 4-7 d. 161(80.5%) patients were dismissed after completion of treatment. On analysing world health organization (WHO) prescribing core indicators, the average number of drugs per prescription was 4.29 which is higher than double the average number (i.e., 2). This indicates poly-pharmacy practice. 97.78% of drugs were prescribed were the generic name and percentage of encounters with antibiotic prescribed was 90.5% which is thrice greater than world health organization (WHO) standard<30%. Prescribing of injections is not within the world health organization (WHO) recommended range<20% and it was far higher showing 97.5% which is essential for paediatric inpatients. The prescribing practice in paediatric ward is in complete adherence to national essential drug list (EDL) or formulary. The mean value of the index of rational drug prescribing (IRDP) obtained was 3.09 which is very similar to that of optimal value world health organization (WHO). Conclusion:Prescription by generic name, prescribing drugs from essential drug list (EDL) and free government supply are encouraging findings in this hospital. The result shows poly-pharmacy and overuse of antibiotics are the areas to be concerned. The better clinical outcome shows rational prescribing is practised well.

A Prescription Audit and Assessment of Drug Utilization Pattern in a Tertiary Care Teaching and Referral Hospital in Uttar Pradesh, India

“…Burn and trauma cases 6 (2.12) average number of drugs to be prescribed per prescription that is 2.0. The almost same finding was noticed in a study done by Senthilselvi et al where an average number of drugs per prescription was 4.29 which is greater than double the average number (i.e., 2) recommended by the WHO [13]. The risk of drug interactions is directly proportional to the increase in average number of drugs per prescription.…”

A cross sectional study on prescribing pattern for children at primary health care clinics

“…The percentage of antibiotics prescribed also less compared to the similar studies. 12,13 The total number of drugs from Essential list in this study was better compared to the studies at other cities. 14 Percentage encounter with injection is only in 1.67% patients indicating a rational practice as previously reported.…”

Evaluating the Immediate Effects of Deep Pressure on Children Developmental Coordination Disorder: Demonstrating Individual Differences

“…Deep pressure showed positive effect for the majority of children with DCD in this study [6][7][8]. However, the effects were not similar among the children participated in this study.…”

“…The prevalence of DCD in the USA is 5-8%, 5.7% in Greek, 1.8% in the United Kingdom, 5-9% in Canada, and 6% in worldwide [7][8][9][10].…”