Prescription of antibiotics among paediatric outpatients at Teaching Hospital-Jaffna

Abstract

Aim of the study was to evaluate prescription of antibiotics among paediatric outpatients at Teaching Hospital-Jaffna. It was a cross sectional descriptive study carried out among the paediatric outpatients in July and August 2014. A data extraction form was developed based on WHO data collection forms and was used to collect the data. Nine drug use indicators which include modified core and complementary WHO drug use indicators and indicators developed by the investigators were used to evaluate antibiotic prescription. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Out of 1181 prescriptions of paediatric outpatients, 825 (69.9%) had antibiotics. Average number of antibiotics per prescription was 0.7. Percentage of antibiotics prescribed by generic name, from essential medicine list and for common conditions were 97%, 100% and 91.4% respectively. Percentage of prescriptions with the documentation of reason for prescribing an antibiotic was 97%. Only 3.4% antibiotic prescriptions were complete. Percentage of drug cost spent on antibiotics was 33.2% and average antibiotic cost per encounter was 54.34 Sri Lankan rupees. The most frequently prescribed antibiotic group was penicillins (53.3%). The most common indication for antibiotics was respiratory tract infection (70.3%). Majority of the antibiotics (74%) were prescribed in paediatric dosage form. Good prescribing practice was observed for prescribing in generic name, prescribing the antibiotic from essential medicines list, prescribing for common conditions, documentation of reason for prescribing and prescription of paediatric dosage forms. The completeness of antibiotic prescriptions was poor and needs special attention to improve. The drug use indicators are useful tools to evaluate the antibiotic prescriptions in a setting as well as among different settings.

International Journal of KIU

“…Conversely, antibiotic prescription varies between countries, as evidenced by the fact that in Africa and Asia, one out of every two hospitalized patients receive antibiotics, but in Europe, one out of every three patients receive antibiotics (Yimenu et al, 2019) In Sri Lanka, the rate of antibiotic prescriptions was 69.9%, which is three times higher than the WHO recommended figures, according to a study by Thiyahiny et al (2019). Additionally, it stated that the antibiotic prescribing patterns were poor due to its incompleteness, and improvements needed to be made (Thiyahiny et al, 2019). Therefore, to prevent and control the spread of antibiotic resistance, health professionals must adhere to guidelines when prescribing and dispensing antibiotics.…”

Assessment of Antibiotics Prescribing Patterns at the Outpatient Department of a Specialized Children Hospital in Sri Lanka: Using WHO Recommended Prescribing Indicators

“…Previous reports suggest that antibiotics are often provided erroneously or improperly for 44% to 97% of hospitalized patients in underdeveloped nations (Otim et al, 2021;Zellweger et al, 2017). In Sri Lanka, the rate of antibiotic prescriptions was 69.9%, which is three times higher than the WHO recommended figures, according to a study by Thiyahiny et al (2019). Additionally, it stated that the antibiotic prescribing patterns were poor due to its incompleteness, and improvements needed to be made (Thiyahiny et al, 2019).…”

“…In Sri Lanka, the rate of antibiotic prescriptions was 69.9%, which is three times higher than the WHO recommended figures, according to a study by Thiyahiny et al (2019). Additionally, it stated that the antibiotic prescribing patterns were poor due to its incompleteness, and improvements needed to be made (Thiyahiny et al, 2019). Therefore, to prevent and control the spread of antibiotic resistance, health professionals must adhere to guidelines when prescribing and dispensing antibiotics.…”