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Appropriateness and affordability of prescriptions to diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda: A retrospective cross-sectional study.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2021 Jan 05; Vol. 16 (1), pp. e0245036. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jan 05 (Print Publication: 2021). - Publication Year :
- 2021
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Abstract
- Background: Irrational prescription of drugs can lead to high cost of treatment thus limiting access to essential medicines. We assessed the affordability and appropriateness of prescriptions written for diabetic patients in Eastern Uganda.<br />Methods: We collected secondary data from the health management information system registers of patients who attended the outpatient medical clinic at Mbale regional referral hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. The average cost of the prescriptions was calculated and adjusted odds ratios for predictors for unaffordability estimated using logistic regression. Computed scores for indicators of rational drug prescription were used to assess the extent of rational prescribing.<br />Results: The median cost per prescription was USD 11.34 (IQR 8.1, 20.2). Majority of the diabetic patients (n = 2462; 94.3%, 95% CI: 93.3-95.1%) could not afford the prescribed drugs. Predictors for unaffordability were if a prescription contained: ≥ 4 medicines (AOR = 12.45; 95% CI: 3.9-39.7); an injectable (AOR = 5.47; 95%CI: 1.47-20.32) and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus with other comorbidities (AOR = 3.36; 95%CI: 1.95-5.78). Having no antidiabetic drug prescribed was protective for non-affordability (AOR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.24-0.61). The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.8. The percentage prescription of drugs by generic name and from the essential medicine and health supplies list of Uganda were (6160/7461; 82.6%, 96% CI: 81.7%-83.4%) and (6092/7461; 81.7%, 95% CI: 80.8%-82.5%) respectively against WHO standard of 100%.<br />Conclusion: The majority of diabetic patients (94.3%) in Eastern Uganda cannot afford to buy prescribed medicines. The government should therefore ensure that essential medicines are readily accessible in public health facilities.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Subjects :
- Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes Mellitus economics
Drugs, Essential economics
Humans
Prescription Drugs economics
Quality Indicators, Health Care
Retrospective Studies
Tertiary Care Centers
Uganda
Costs and Cost Analysis
Diabetes Mellitus drug therapy
Drugs, Essential therapeutic use
Prescription Drugs therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 16
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33400703
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245036