1. Evaluation of rational drug use among pediatrics by using WHO core drug use indicators in selected hospitals of Pakistan.
- Author
-
Hafeez, Haiqa, Akbar, Jamshaid, Munir, Abu Bakar, Qamar-uz-Zaman, Muhammad, Abbas, Syed Faiz, Maqsood, Syed Mubashar, and Riaz, Iqra
- Subjects
DRUG utilization ,HEALTH facilities ,DRUG labeling ,HOSPITALS ,PHARMACIST-patient relationships ,HOSPITAL care ,TERTIARY care - Abstract
Background: Irrational drug use is markedly a reason for morbidity and mortality in paeds. To analyze the pattern of drug use in pediatrics outpatient department of tertiary care hospitals by using WHO core drug use indicators, was the main objective of this evaluation process. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to review total 2000 prescriptions from the pediatrics outpatient department (OPD) of two tertiary care centers of Lahore, Pakistan during 1st April 2019 to 31st September 2019. The data was collected on standard core drug use indicator forms for evaluating WHO prescribing, patient care and health facility indicators. WHO's declared ideal standards were used against each of the indicators and SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The statistics obtained for prescribing indicators depicted the average number of drugs per prescription were 3.26, generic prescribing was missing completely, the experiences with anti-microbial were 76.4%, injections prescribed up to 8.25% and 97.8% of the drugs were prescribed from the Essential Drugs List (EDL). The patient-care indicators revealed the average consultation time and dispensing time of 1.75 min and 21.25 seconds respectively, 93.65% drugs were actually dispensed; prescription labeling was followed all the way. For the facility-specific indicators, both facilities owned a duplicate of the EDL and 92.5% of Essential drugs were at hand in inventory. Conclusion: Majority of WHO core drug use indicators were found non-conforming in the tertiary care hospitals. The result urges the implementation of WHO recommended interventions and education of physicians, pharmacists and patients to stimulate rational drug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF