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Background Rational use of medicine in a teaching hospital is critical for effective and efficient patient care. This study assessed prescription, dispensing, and rational medicine in a Nigerian tertiary care facility. Materials and Method This was an analytic cross-sectional study with data collected using validated tools underpinned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Network for the Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) core indicators for prescription, patient care, and facility. A cluster sample of 10 specialist clinics and servicing pharmacies were selected. Simple random sampling was deployed to retrieve 600 medicine prescriptions in the pharmacies over a six-month period (June 1, 2021–November 30, 2021). Patient care indicators were assessed using 330 patient encounters, and 48 prescribers across the 10 clinics were randomly selected for assessing factors influencing prescribing practices. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses were conducted with SPSS version 25, and findings were compared with WHO/INRUD recommendations. Results The mean medicine count per visit was 3.4 ± 1.9 with 40.2% and 24.8% of prescriptions containing antibiotics and injections, respectively. Nonproprietary prescriptions were 43.6% and 97.1% of medicines prescribed were contained the essential medicines list (EML). The mean times spent were 17.5 ± 8.0 and 7.7 ± 3.8 min with prescribers and dispensers, respectively. Most (99.8%) of the dispensed medicines were labeled properly while 82% of patients knew the regimen. Most (93.3%) tracer medicines were in the pharmacies, but no clinic had copies of the EML. Significant differences in prescription and patient care indicators were reported across specialty units. Conclusion Gaps exist in medicine prescription and dispensing. The preponderance of brand prescription, polypharmacy, and antibiotic prescription calls for implementation of extant policies and guidelines on the use of medicines as well as training and monitoring on rational medicine use among prescribers and dispensers in the teaching hospital.

Background Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers’ practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects. Conclusions This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers. More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system.

Background: The prescribing practice of newer oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has not been adequately studied in the Indian scenario. Aims: We aimed to describe the prescribing practices of oral anticoagulants, the patient profile and medical comorbidities among patients admitted in a general medicine unit. Methods: In this retrospective study of the 2742 patients prescribed vitamin- K antagonists (VKAs), during the study period, 150 cases were randomly taken for analysis to match the 105 NOACs cases. Their demographic details, clinical characteristics and treatment details were analyzed. Results: More than 95% of anticoagulants prescribed were VKAs. The prescription of anticoagulants was more common in men (median age 63 years) for prescription of NOACs and 52 years for VKAs. Dabigatran (60.9%) and warfarin (81.3%) were the most prescribed drugs in their respective classes. The most common indication was for cardiovascular diseases with atrial fibrillation (32%). Diabetes and hypertension were the most common comorbidities in patients prescribed oral anticoagulants with a larger proportion of patients with heart failure being prescribed VKAs (P < 0.01). Patients in the NOACs group had a higher HAS-BLED high-risk score (33.3% vs. 17.3%; P = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with co-morbidities of congestive heart failure were more likely to be prescribed VKAs while diabetics were more likely to receive NOACs. Conclusions: VKAs were the most prescribed anticoagulants; congestive heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension were the commonest comorbidities; and atrial fibrillation was the commonest indication. Patients with a high HAS-BLED score were prescribed NOACs more often. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers’ practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects. Conclusions This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers. More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system.

BackgroundMany variables may affect the approaches of primary care providers (PCPs) to mental disorders. This study was aimed at reaching PCPs actively practicing in Turkey through a web-based survey and determining their practices and attitudes regarding mental disorders.MethodsThis was a web-based, quantitative, cross-sectional, primary care approach-based observational survey.ResultsData from 454 PCPs (213 male, 241 female; 321 general practitioners, 133 family medicine specialists) were examined. In-service training in psychiatry (p

Background Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers’ practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects. Conclusions This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers. More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system.

Background: Levodopa (LD) is the most effective drug to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). The recently concluded multinational Parkinson's Real-World Impact Assessment (PRISM) trial revealed highly variable prescription patterns of LD monotherapy across six European countries. The reasons remain unclear. Methods: In this post hoc analysis of PRISM trial data, we used multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify socio-economic factors affecting prescription practice. We applied receiver-operated characteristics and split sample validation to test model accuracy to predict treatment class (LD monotherapy vs. all other treatments). Results: Subject age, disease duration, and country of residence were significant predictors of treatment class. The chance of receiving LD monotherapy increased by 6.9% per year of age. In contrast, longer disease duration reduced the likelihood of receiving LD monotherapy by 9.7% per year. Compared to the other countries, PD patients in Germany were 67.1% less likely and their counterparts in the UK 86.8% more likely to receive an LD monotherapy. The model classification accuracy of treatment class assignment was 80.1%. The area under the curve to predict treatment condition was 0.758 (95% CI [0.715, 0.802]). Split sample validation revealed poor sensitivity (36.6%), but excellent specificity (92.7%) to predict treatment class. Conclusion: The relative lack of socio-economic variables affecting prescription practice in the study sample and limited model accuracy to predict treatment class suggest the presence of additional, country-specific factors affecting prescription patterns that were not assessed in the PRISM trial. Our findings indicate that physicians still avoid prescribing LD monotherapy to younger PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers’ practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results: Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects. Conclusions: This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers. More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system.

The recording of antimicrobial use data is critical for the development of interventions for the containment of antimicrobial resistance. This cross-sectional study assessed whether dissemination activities and recommendations made after an operational research (OR) study in 2021 resulted in better data recording and improved the use of antimicrobials in a rural veterinary clinic. Routinely collected data from treatment record books were compared between 2013 and 2019 (pre-OR) and from July 2021 to April 2023 (post-OR). The most common animals presenting for care in the the pre – and post OR periods were dogs (369 and 206, respectively). Overall, antimicrobial use in animals increased from 53% to 77% between the two periods. Tetracycline was the most commonly used antimicrobial (99%) during the pre-OR period, while Penicillin-Streptomycin was the most commonly used antimicrobial (65%) during the post-OR period. All animals that received care at the clinic were documented in the register during both periods. Whereas the diagnosis was documented in 269 (90%) animals in the post-OR period compared to 242 (47%) in the pre-OR period, the routes and dosages were not adequately recorded during the both periods. Therefore, the quality of data recording was still deficient despite the dissemination and the recommendations made to some key stakeholders. Recommendations are made for a standardized antimicrobial reporting tool, refresher training, and continuous supervisory visits to the clinic.

Context: Irrational use of medications for acute diarrhea in children is rampant. We conducted this survey to analyze prescription practices among pediatricians for acute diarrhea and their deviation from standard treatment guidelines. Subjects and Methods: A self-administered online questionnaire regarding prescription practices was circulated among pediatricians in Maharashtra, India, through various academic groups on WhatsApp, during the World Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) Week, 2021. The questionnaire was anonymous and consisted of 15 compulsory close-ended multiple-choice questions. Results: Two hundred and eighty-seven pediatricians participated. Among which, 88.9% of the participants said that they prescribed ORS in acute diarrhea, 26.8% preferred zinc supplementation only in the case of watery diarrhea, 62% used probiotics or probiotics plus zinc combinations, and 60% said that they prescribe antisecretory drugs such as racecadotril. Forty percentage of the participants admitted that they occasionally use antibiotics for the management of acute diarrhea, while 5% said that they frequently do so. Most pediatricians advise appropriate ORS substitutes. Large number of pediatricians perceived probiotics (51.2%), dietary restriction (15.7%), racecadotril (10.5%), and antibiotics (6.3%) to be an important part in managing acute diarrhea. Only 25.4% of the pediatricians answered correctly and said parental counseling along with zinc and ORS work best as treatment. Conclusions: This study demonstrates low adherence by pediatricians to standard treatment guidelines for the management of acute diarrhea. Misuse of antibiotics and unscientific use of drugs were evidenced from this study. Awareness regarding the advantages of ORS among pediatricians is high. At present, there is a need to focus on appropriate feeding practices, emphasizing on the role of zinc and discouraging use of antibiotics, probiotics, antisecretory drugs, and irrational combinations.

Background: Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers’ practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results: Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects. Conclusions: This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers . More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system.

Background: Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined., Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers' practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed., Results: Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects., Conclusions: This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers. More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2024 Assanangkornchai S et al.)

Background: Many variables may affect the approaches of primary care providers (PCPs) to mental disorders. This study was aimed at reaching PCPs actively practicing in Turkey through a web-based survey and determining their practices and attitudes regarding mental disorders., Methods: This was a web-based, quantitative, cross-sectional, primary care approach-based observational survey., Results: Data from 454 PCPs (213 male, 241 female; 321 general practitioners, 133 family medicine specialists) were examined. In-service training in psychiatry ( p  < 0.001), using classification criteria when evaluating mental disorders ( p  < 0.001), and experience in diagnosing mental disorders ( p  = 0.003) were more prevalent among family medicine specialists than general practitioners. Regardless of specialization status, PCPs reported the most difficulty diagnosing bipolar disorder (62.33%) and following-up alcohol/drug use disorder (52.20%). Significant differences in the use of psychotropic medications were observed between general practitioners and family medicine specialists. While the rate of direct referral to psychiatry without intervening in certain situations was higher among general practitioners, variety of psychotropic medication use were also more evident among them. Misinformation that antidepressants cause forgetfulness, numbness, suicide, and addiction was prevalent among all PCPs. Those who had in-service training in psychiatry had significantly more experience in using classification criteria, diagnosing and starting treatment for mental disorders, using psychotropic medications, and encountering suicide-related situations ( p  < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that psychiatry in-service training experience can improve the use of classification criteria, suicide detection, antidepressant choice in anxiety, and understanding the addictive nature of antidepressants (Sensitivity = 88.6%; Specificity = 98.3%; Beginning block -2 Log likelihood 628.946, overall p value < 0.001; Block one -2 Log likelihood 141.054 a , Cox & Snell R 2  = 0.659, Nagelkerke R 2  = 0.878; Hosmer and Lemeshow Test p  = 0.938)., Conclusion: This study makes significant contributions to the literature by discussing the subject in detail and comparing general practitioners and family medicine specialists. Regardless of their specialty status, PCPs' knowledge about mental disorders needs to be improved. In-service psychiatry training is one of the tools that can be used for this purpose., Competing Interests: The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Örüm.)

Background: Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) has become the standard of care in orthopaedic surgery. Inappropriate usage of antibiotics (dosage, strength, and/or administration time and duration) can inadvertently result in superadded infections and antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of this study was to document and analyse the prescription patterns for SAP, and to investigate the factors associated with divergence from standard guidelines. Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional questionnaire-based study to collect information about the SAP practices of the members of the Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA) using Google forms. A link to the questionnaire was sent by e-mails. Results: The overall response rate was 5.73%. While 97.3% respondents practised SAP routinely, the practice was not aligned with standard guidelines' recommendations. There was heterogeneity in the use of SAP in terms of choice of antibiotic(s), number of co-prescribed drugs, single- versus multiple-dose regimens, and the duration of therapy. The prescription practice patterns showed that orthopaedic surgeons almost always used broad-spectrum antibiotics for long durations, regardless of the type of surgery. Conclusion: While Orthopaedic surgeons in India are practicing SAP, the pattern of antibiotic usage is heterogeneous. Variations were noted in the choice of antibiotics for different types of surgeries, time of administration, duration of usage in the postoperative period as well as co-prescriptions. This study highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive, rational, and robust national SAP policy for orthopaedic surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is scarce scientific data on topical corticosteroids (TCS) prescription by non-dermatologists including registered medical practitioners, ayurvedic, homeopathic practitioners, and over-the-counter (OTC) use of TCS-containing creams. Objective: The main objective of this study is to analyze the prescription and usage pattern of topical steroids among out-patient attendees with dermatophyte infection. To study health-seeking behavior of patients with dermatophyte infections. Material and Methods: An open, cross-sectional, duration-based study of 3 months. Inclusion criteria: Patients with dermatophytosis having a history of topical steroid application; either prescribed or purchased OTC and used themselves. Exclusion criteria: Patients who were not willing to give informed consent. Patient's data like socio-demographic profile, duration, frequency, site of application, contents of the topical cream used, prescriber information, and patients' desire to continue the use of topical steroids were recorded. Results: Total of 18.40% (n = 503) patients were already using cream-containing TCS at the time of presentation to the tertiary dermatology care center. The study shows that almost half of the patients (48.90%) were using unprescribed TCS. Registered medical practitioners were the most common source of TCS creams prescription (59.92%) in the prescribed group, while 26.07% patients were prescribed TCS by dermatologists. Clobetasol propionate (47.91%), was most common steroid agent used. Conclusion: Patients are able to get “prescription-only” drugs as OTC products. Such OTC use of TCS puts patients at risk of steroid modified dermatophytosis and topical steroid damaged skin. Even dermatologists may be culprit in creating menace of steroid abuse.

Background: Oxygen is commonly used in the acute care setting. However, used inappropriately, oxygen therapy can result in adverse consequences, including progressive respiratory failure and death. Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of a targeted intervention to improve prescribing practice and therapeutic application of supplemental oxygen. Methods: Respiratory, Oncology and Surgery wards were targeted for the intervention. Nursing and junior medical staff from these wards undertook an education programme about safe use of oxygen. Cross‐sectional data about oxygen prescribing, administration and monitoring were collected on inpatients in these wards at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months post‐intervention, using a modified version of the British Thoracic Society Oxygen Audit Tool. Results: At baseline, there was a written prescription for oxygen in 56% of patients (n = 43) using oxygen and this increased to 75% (n = 44) at 3 months, and remained at 65% (n = 48) at 6 months. However, the increased prescription rates were not statistically significant when compared to baseline (χ2 = 3.54, df = 1, P = 0.06 and χ2 = 0.73, df = 1, P = 0.40, respectively). The observed increase in oxygen prescriptions was driven by the medical wards: Oncology ward at 3 months (χ2 = 8.24, df = 1, P = 0.004); and Respiratory ward at 3 months (χ2 = 3.31, df = 1, P = 0.069) and 6 months (χ2 = 4.98, df = 1, P = 0.026). Conclusion: The education programme intervention to improve oxygen prescription showed promise in the medical wards but did not impact outcomes in the surgical ward setting, where different strategies may be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the prescription practices in the Indian state of Rajasthan with a view to demonstrate the effect of provider and system level factors, and their interactions on good prescription practices. The study analysed two major dimensions of good prescription practice; first, the completeness of prescription, a measure of adequacy; and second, the appropriateness of prescription, a measure of quality of care. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study with a mixed method approach Setting: 24 rural and 7 urban government Primary Health Centres of Rajasthan, India Participants: Audit of 2801 prescriptions from health facility and the service providers in these facilities, including doctors, and nurses Primary and Secondary Outcomes: The study outcome testified the study objective that provider level factor is critical to assure adequacy and appropriateness of good prescription practice. The secondary level outcome revealed that the system level factors are equally important to ensure compliance to good prescription practice Result: We found that the documentation of patient complaint, examination findings largely depended on system level factors, such as availability of space in the piece of paper used for writing prescription; because for the doctor documenting diagnosis, and prescribing medicines and investigations were of greater importance. Ownership compliance of doctors, measured in terms of their signature on the prescriptions, emerged as an important factor determining both adequacy and accuracy of prescriptions. Further, the treatment appropriateness, measured in terms of QoC, depends on both provider & system level factors. Conclusion: There is a need to focus on provider and system level factors to improve prescription practices in primary health care. We recommend that institutional strengthening at systemic & provider level using innovative ways; such as task shifting to nurses as ‘physician assistants’, and reducing administrative activities of physicians to enhance focus on clinical work can propel better prescription practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is scarce scientific data on topical corticosteroids (TCS) prescription by non-dermatologists including registered medical practitioners, ayurvedic, homeopathic practitioners, and over-the-counter (OTC) use of TCS-containing creams. Objective: The main objective of this study is to analyze the prescription and usage pattern of topical steroids among out-patient attendees with dermatophyte infection. To study health-seeking behavior of patients with dermatophyte infections. Material and Methods: An open, cross-sectional, duration-based study of 3 months. Inclusion criteria: Patients with dermatophytosis having a history of topical steroid application; either prescribed or purchased OTC and used themselves. Exclusion criteria: Patients who were not willing to give informed consent. Patient's data like socio-demographic profile, duration, frequency, site of application, contents of the topical cream used, prescriber information, and patients' desire to continue the use of topical steroids were recorded. Results: Total of 18.40% (n = 503) patients were already using cream-containing TCS at the time of presentation to the tertiary dermatology care center. The study shows that almost half of the patients (48.90%) were using unprescribed TCS. Registered medical practitioners were the most common source of TCS creams prescription (59.92%) in the prescribed group, while 26.07% patients were prescribed TCS by dermatologists. Clobetasol propionate (47.91%), was most common steroid agent used. Conclusion: Patients are able to get "prescription-only" drugs as OTC products. Such OTC use of TCS puts patients at risk of steroid modified dermatophytosis and topical steroid damaged skin. Even dermatologists may be culprit in creating menace of steroid abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recording of antimicrobial use data is critical for the development of interventions for the containment of antimicrobial resistance. This cross-sectional study assessed whether dissemination activities and recommendations made after an operational research (OR) study in 2021 resulted in better data recording and improved the use of antimicrobials in a rural veterinary clinic. Routinely collected data from treatment record books were compared between 2013 and 2019 (pre-OR) and from July 2021 to April 2023 (post-OR). The most common animals presenting for care in the the pre - and post OR periods were dogs (369 and 206, respectively). Overall, antimicrobial use in animals increased from 53% to 77% between the two periods. Tetracycline was the most commonly used antimicrobial (99%) during the pre-OR period, while Penicillin-Streptomycin was the most commonly used antimicrobial (65%) during the post-OR period. All animals that received care at the clinic were documented in the register during both periods. Whereas the diagnosis was documented in 269 (90%) animals in the post-OR period compared to 242 (47%) in the pre-OR period, the routes and dosages were not adequately recorded during the both periods. Therefore, the quality of data recording was still deficient despite the dissemination and the recommendations made to some key stakeholders. Recommendations are made for a standardized antimicrobial reporting tool, refresher training, and continuous supervisory visits to the clinic.

Abstract: Background: Oxygen is a widely used drug in the hospital setting. However, international audits suggest that oxygen administration practices are often not compliant with prescribed standards. This can place patients at risk and cause serious adverse events. Aim: To analyse data related to recent practices of oxygen prescription and administration at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), Western Australia. The results of this audit aim to guide further research on possible interventional studies implementing key solutions. Methods: All patients who received care in the Acute Medical Unit at RPH between 1 September and 14 September 2015 were included in this audit. Patients who were given supplemental oxygen during their admission were selected for further review of records. Appropriate medically indicated target oxygen saturations for each patient were judged under consultation with a respiratory specialist. Results: A total of 65 patients received oxygen supplementation within the study period; 36 of these patients (55.4%) had target oxygen saturations prescribed by doctors, and 25% of the prescribed targets were judged to be inappropriate. In total, 49 patients (75.4%) were exposed to a potential risk from oxygen therapy due to prescription error and/or delivery error. A real risk was identified in 19 patients (29.2%) as they received oxygen at levels outside their appropriate medically indicated target range. Conclusion: The current practices of oxygen prescription and administration within RPH are suboptimal. Patients are placed at risk of oxygen toxicity due to deviation from oxygen prescription guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National data from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden demonstrate remarkable differences in candidaemia epidemiology. Only Denmark has reported a high incidence of 10 per 100 000 inhabitants and a species shift towards increased C. glabrata candidaemias. The reasons for this development remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore possible contributing factors for the differences in Candida epidemiology in the Nordic countries. We used public data from 2011 from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden on epidemiology, demographics, health facilities, predisposing risk factors, consumption of antimicrobial drugs and fungicides in agricultural industry. Only the prevalence of haematological malignancies ( P < 0.001) was significantly higher in Denmark compared to the other Nordic countries. The antibacterial drug use of metronidazole, piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, colistin and carbapenems, and antifungal use of fluconazole in humans ( P < 0.001), were significantly higher in Denmark compared to the other Nordic countries (all P < 0.001). Our findings suggest haematological malignancy, the use of certain antibacterial drugs and azoles in humans as possible contributing factors for the differences in Candida epidemiology. However, our results should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of long-term, case-specific data. Further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are very few conditions in dentistry in which systemic antibiotics are indicated, as majority of dental diseases are managed by oral hygiene measures and local interventions. In contrast to it, inadequate antibiotic prescription practice of dentists is evident in literature. The objective of the study was to assess the antibiotic prescription practice of dentists employed in a public sector teaching institute of Karachi. It was a cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: A cohort of dentists working in a public sector dental institute of Karachi was included in the study. A self-administered semi-structured validated questionnaire was utilized for assessing the antibioticprescription practice. The data was entered and analyzed using statistical package for social science [SPSS]version 16.0. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 110 dentists and 89 filled questionnaires were received back from the respondents, thus giving a response rate of 81%. Amoxicillin was the antibiotic of choice among 43.3%, Amoxicillin Clavulinate in 34% and Metronidazole in 11.3% of surveyed dentists for the treatment of acute dental infections in patients without any known allergy; whereas Erythromycin (22.5%), Cephalaxin (23.6%)and Clindamycin (30.30%) was preferred for patients allergic to penicillin. Majority of respondents prescribeantibiotics for cellulitis (85.39%), pericronitis (75.20%), acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (70.70%),periodontal abscess (65.10%), acute pulpitis (53.90%), chronic periodontitis (41.50%), chronic marginal gingivitis(24.70%) and dry socket (17.90%). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that majority of respondents prescribe antibiotics routinely, even for conditions where local management would be enough and highlighted that there is a need of developing guidelines by regulatory bodies based on available literature to regulate appropriate use of antibiotics.

Background: Several studies have analyzed prescription patterns for bipolar disorder, but few have for acute mania. Treatment strategies in this complex domain change over time and do not always follow evidence-based guidelines.Methods: Prescription data of in-patients suffering from acute mania in the time period from 2005 to 2012 were obtained from the database of the Drug Safety Program in Psychiatry (Institut für Arzneimittelsicherheit in der Psychiatrie; AMSP). Data were collected on two index dates per year. Changes over time were analyzed comparing the time periods 2005/06 and 2011/12.Results: Among 1650 patients (mean ±SD; age: 48.9±14.91 years; 53.1% females) 54.1% received anticonvulsants, 74.5% second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), 17.8% first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), 29.1% lithium, 44.1% benzodiazepines and 14.5% antidepressants. Prescription of SGAs increased from 70% to 79% (p=0.005), while prescription of FGAs and anticonvulsants decreased from 19% to 13% (p<0.05) and 59% to 46% (p<0.001), respectively. Only 30% of patients received monotherapy with one mood stabilizer. We observed an impact of gender, age and psychotic symptoms on treatment strategy. 36.8% of the women≤40 years received valproate.Limitations: Follow-up data are missing and no differentiation between acute and maintenance treatments could be made due to the cross-sectional design. Additionally, our findings do not necessarily translate to outpatients or to other countries.Conclusions: Combination therapies represent standard clinical practice. Though many results reflect clinical necessity, the high number of antidepressant prescriptions or valproate use in women of child-bearing age should be judged critically. Further prospective studies should focus on real-world prescription practice in acute mania to evaluate efficacy and safety of common practice. This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Hanns Hippius on the occasion of his 90th birthday. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and objectives Patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bariatric ( RYGB) surgery present a reduced absorption site, and special attention should therefore be taken when prescribing oral-dosage forms. This study was carried out to investigate the extent to which non-bariatric clinicians are aware of this issue when prescribing medicines for this population, and what type of information is available to aid them in their decision-making. Methods Two questionnaires were created, one for non-bariatric clinicians and another for their patients who had undergone RYGB surgery, to gather information about the prescription practices for this population. Additionally, a literature search of pharmacokinetic studies on bariatric patients and recommended prescription practices was carried out. Results and discussion Of the 62 non-bariatric clinicians surveyed, 50% believed RYGB surgery interferes with drug absorption; however, 68% still prescribed tablets as the first choice form of dosage. Young clinicians (35%) were less likely to believe that RYGB surgery could affect drug absorption than experienced clinicians (43%). The main reasons for changing dosage forms were patient complaints about efficacy or difficulty in swallowing tablets. Of the 73 patients, 43 were taking drugs in tablet form after the surgery, 24 of whom had health issues unrelated to the surgery. None of the journals read by the clinicians contained pharmacokinetics ( PK) studies involving bariatric surgery patients or presented recommendations for the prescription of oral-dosage forms for this population. The literature search revealed a total of 22 drugs that had undergone PK studies in RYGB patients. Fifteen of them were reported to have decreased effects, 12 of which were administered as tablets. What is new and conclusion There is still a relative lack of clinical evidence to guide clinicians when prescribing medicines for bariatric patients. It is therefore recommended that pharmacists should have greater participation in the prescription process to advise non-bariatric clinicians and educate RYGB surgery patients to help avoid therapeutic failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Results of trial E2100 led to the accelerated approval of bevacizumab as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in the U.S. in February 2008. Based on results from subsequent trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) issued a statement proposing to withdraw the license for bevacizumab in July 2010, whereas bevacizumab approval for MBC was not withdrawn in Europe. In this nationwide survey, we investigated the influence of the discrepancy between the ODAC and European Medicines Agency (EMA) positions on the prescription practice of bevacizumab for MBC in Austria during the period January 2006 to June 2011. Methods. The absolute number of bevacizumab administrations for MBC patients per month in all Austrian hospitals within the mentioned time frame was retrieved from a comprehensive national database. Bevacizumab prescription numbers for other malignancies were retrieved in order to rule out that a change in bevacizumab prescribing practice might reflect general changes in Austrian health care policy. Results. A steady increase in bevacizumab use was seen from January 2006 to June 2010 (42 versus 1,357 administrations per month) for MBC. Thereafter, a significant decline in bevacizumab prescriptions for MBC became evident, with numbers dropping to 842 in March 2011 and 662 in June 2011. Bevacizumab prescriptions showed only minor variations in control cohorts. Conclusions. The Austrian bevacizumab prescribing practice in MBC patients was significantly influenced by the ODAC statement issued in July 2010, whereas the EMA position was accepted to a lesser degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study was to review the use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in a medical intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: Double-blind prospective study conducted in a 14-bed intensive care unit, covering all patients admitted over a 2-month period. A comparison with 2 guidelines based on indication, age of the patient, kidney function, platelet count, and duration of treatment was performed. Bleeding complication and clinically diagnosed phlebitis episodes were collected. Results: One hundred thirty-six patients (71 treated with LMWH and 65 untreated) were included in the study (mean age, 60 ± 18 years; SAPS (Simplified Acute Physiology Score) II, 39 ± 23). Among treated patients, 9 were overtreated (13%), and among nontreated patients, 13 were undertreated (20%). In the cohort of treated patients, reasons for failure to comply with recommendations included age of the patient (30%), creatinine clearance (18%), platelet count (32.4%), and duration of treatment (12.7%). Low-molecular-weight heparin prescriptions were conforming to the 4 criteria in 35.2% of patients, to 3 in 43.7%, to 2 in 19.7%, and to 1 in 1.4%. Conclusion: The prescription of prophylactic LMWH in intensive care has become a routine. Our study shows that over- and underprescription are common together with misuse. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Dispensing doctors (DDs) have been found to prescribe significantly more drugs, more injections and more antibiotics per patient than non-dispensing doctors (NDDs). However, the rationality of prescription in relation to diagnoses and symptoms has not been studied.Objectives: To identify and assess differences in the rationality of cotrimoxazole prescription by DDs and NDDs evaluated by drug choice and dosage in relation to diagnoses and symptoms.Methods: Cohort study of 28 private sector DDs and 25 NDDs in Zimbabwe, using retrospective data from 688 patient records. Drug choice and dose in relation to the recorded diagnoses and symptom(s) were assessed. A new method was developed and tested to measure rationality in a specific and realistic way. A 'correctness-score list' was developed based on a panel of four evaluators assessing the rationality of cotrimoxazole prescription in relation to diagnoses and symptoms. This list was then used as a reference for the assessment.Results: The two groups of prescribers did not differ significantly with respect to rationality of drug choice. Both DDs and NDDs prescribed cotrimoxazole to patients for diagnoses and symptoms for which cotrimoxazole could not be justified (41.4%vs. 43.5%). DDs compared with NDDs used subcurative doses more often (26.4% of the encounters compared with 11.7%; P = 0.035) and correct doses less frequent (58.0% compared with 72.6%; P = 0.047).Conclusion: The prescription of cotrimoxazole by both DDs and NDDs was widely irrational. They prescribed cotrimoxazole too frequently, and DDs used subcurative doses to a wider extent. By this prescribing practice, both groups, but especially the DDs, contribute to increasing health hazards, cost and risk of developing bacterial resistance. The method for assessing rationality of drug prescribing was found feasible, and it is recommended that it be further tested and developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) has become the standard of care in orthopaedic surgery. Inappropriate usage of antibiotics (dosage, strength, and/or administration time and duration) can inadvertently result in superadded infections and antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of this study was to document and analyse the prescription patterns for SAP, and to investigate the factors associated with divergence from standard guidelines., Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional questionnaire-based study to collect information about the SAP practices of the members of the Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA) using Google forms. A link to the questionnaire was sent by e-mails., Results: The overall response rate was 5.73%. While 97.3% respondents practised SAP routinely, the practice was not aligned with standard guidelines' recommendations. There was heterogeneity in the use of SAP in terms of choice of antibiotic(s), number of co-prescribed drugs, single- versus multiple-dose regimens, and the duration of therapy. The prescription practice patterns showed that orthopaedic surgeons almost always used broad-spectrum antibiotics for long durations, regardless of the type of surgery., Conclusion: While Orthopaedic surgeons in India are practicing SAP, the pattern of antibiotic usage is heterogeneous. Variations were noted in the choice of antibiotics for different types of surgeries, time of administration, duration of usage in the postoperative period as well as co-prescriptions. This study highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive, rational, and robust national SAP policy for orthopaedic surgeries., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Indian Orthopaedics Association 2020.)

Background Opioid analgesics, also known as narcotics, are medicinal drugs used primarily for the management of pain secondary to any type of cancer, severe injury or surgery. Due to the ease of availability, opioids are commonly abused. In 2015, reported deaths exceeded 33,000 Americans from opioid overdose. A survey in 2013 revealed nearly 1.6 million Pakistanis abusing prescription opioids for non-medical needs. Although commonly prescribed by primary care physicians, most of them are diffident to stand by all the recommended strategies to reduce the incidence of opioid abuse. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period of August through October 2018. A sample size of 365 was determined using a 95% confidence interval at a degree of precision of 5%. A 22-item questionnaire was given to doctors with at least two years practicing experience either from a private or a public healthcare setup. Doctors who had never prescribed opioids were excluded from the study. Out of the eligible participants, 15 refused to take part in the survey, and the co-operation rate was recorded as 95.8%. Collected data were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 22 for Windows. Frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, and chi-square were used to explore the variables. The statistical significance level was considered at p  < 0.5. Results Opioids were reported to be used mainly for treating acute pain (40.5%), chronic pain (24.7%) and both acute and chronic (34.8%). A minority of doctors (29%) screened their patients for opioid addiction. A significant association ( p = 0.000) between the frequency of opioid prescription and prior screening for depression was determined. Surprisingly, only 23.2% clinicians frequently screened their patients for depression before prescribing opioids. The rate of counselling regarding drug tapering was found to be 71.6%. A majority, i.e., 88%, of the respondents anticipated the misuse of opioids they prescribe whereas 74% also held a belief that patients self-medicate their untreated pain. Participants reported addiction (54%) as the most common reason for abuse followed by the role of pharmaceutical companies (43%) and pharmacies (41%). About 80.2% clinicians believed that patients addicted to opioids could get well and return to their daily routine. Conclusion The rising opioid epidemic is a major concern for doctors prescribing opioids. Adaptation of medical school curricula and appropriate training can equip doctors for better management of patients requiring opioids. This includes the screening of patients using standard risk assessment tools for opioid abuse leading to a more controlled opioid prescription practice. Dissemination of these tools will boost doctors' confidence and may help in reducing morbidity and mortality from opioid abuse., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2019, Majid et al.)

Background: Currently there is very limited data in the literature assessing the prevalence of antihistamine prescription, and there is no local prevalence data about the prescription of antihistamine agents among primary practitioner and emergency physicians. The objectives are 1) to report the prevalence of antihistamine prescription for children less than 6 years old with acute upper respiratory infection and 2) to explore the associated factors for the prescription practice., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. All consecutive cases of paediatric patients aged 6 or below who presented to the emergency department during a study period of one week from April 1 to July 4, 2009 with diagnosis of acute upper respiratory infection were included. Totally 162 patients were included., Results: Among the 162 cases, 141 (87%) patients were prescribed one antihistamine of any group. Sixty (37%) patients were prescribed two or more antihistamines. In multivariate logistic regression model, age was found to be significantly ( P <0.001) associated with multiple antihistamine prescription ( OR =1.042, 95% CI =1.02 to 1.06). Years of graduation of attending physician for more than 5 years was also a strong predictor of multiple antihistamine prescription ( OR =4.654, 95% CI =2.20 to 9.84, P <0.001)., Conclusion: In the local emergency department, patients' age and the years of graduation from medical school of the attending physician were predictors of multiple antihistamine prescription for acute upper respiratory infections for children aged less than 6., Competing Interests: The author receives no financial support or has no financial interest in any of the devices or medication used use in the studies.