| RESEARCH PAPER |
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| Year : 1998 | Volume
: 30
| Issue : 3 | Page : 175-180 |
A study on the drug prescribing pattern and use of antimicrobial agents at a tertiary care teaching hospital in eastern Nepal
Singh Rehana Harmeet, MA Nagarani, Rehan Moushumi
Correspondence Address:
Singh Rehana Harmeet
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
Objective: To find out the prescribing practices in the B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences with special emphasis on the utilization pattern of antimicrobial agents (AMA) and to compare with the drug prescribing practice of physicians in developed countries.
Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted in the month of October 1996. Prescriptions were collected from all the 94 in-patient case records and usingWHO basic drug indicators, the prescribing pattern was analysed.
Results: Prescription analysis showed that the bed occupancy rate, out of 200 beds, was 47%. The average number of drugs per prescription was 5.26. 84% of all prescriptions contained AMA. It was the most commonly prescribed (42.8%) group of drugs followed by anti-inflammatory and analgesics (13.1%). Cloxacillin was the most commonly prescribed AMA followed by ampicillin. Ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole combination was the most frequently used. Prophylactic use of AMA was more in surgical departments. Therapeutic and prophylactic uses of AMA were appropriate only in 30.2% and 55.6% of cases respectively. The use of injections was frequent as evidenced by a mean of 2.12 injections per prescription. The duration of treatment was not mentioned for 45.6% of all the drugs prescribed.
Conclusion: The results indicate that there is a scope for improving prescribing habits and minimizing the use of AMA. This could be facilitated by periodic prescribers education.
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