Abstract

MANAGEMENT OF EMERGENCY DRUGS FOR ACUTE CARE IN PRIMARY MULTISPECIALTY HEALTH CARE CENTER.

Josfin Ann Samuel Pharm D*, Akhila P. Pharm D, Prince Beulah Pharm D, Mahesh N.M. PhD, Bincy Varghese M. Pharm, Arjun Kalyanpur MD and Chhavi Mehra MD

ABSTRACT

Even though multiple studies have been carried out to see if drug utilization was appropriately done as prescribed, to check the adverse effects at various doses of different drugs at tertiary care centers, none have studied these two factors along with the rationality of the prescriptions. This study aims to manage the use of drugs in adults presenting with acute symptoms of illness in a primary multispecialty health center. Setting: The acute care department of a primary multispecialty health care clinic in Bangalore. A prospective observational study was carried out on 100 patients whose data was collected from their respective medical charts and documented in a customized case report form. Main outcomes: Commonly used drugs for each type of acute emergency condition, drug utilization, rationality, drug-drug interactions, Adverse Drug Reaction monitoring. Results: A study of 100 patients was carried out with 3.9±1.5 drugs per prescription. Fever was the commonly (36%) occurring condition requiring acute care. Pantoprazole 53(50.96%) was the most extensively used drug. Among the antimicrobials, ofloxacin (20%) was extensively used. According to WHO indicators an irrational use was found when the drugs were prescribed according to their generic names. Drug interactions were found of mild, moderate and major severity. No reports of adverse drug reaction were found. Polypharmacy was predominant. Emphasis on the prescribing of drugs based on the WHO guidelines for rationality will help in better patient care.

Keywords: Acute care, Drug utilization, Rationality, Drug interactions, Adverse Drug Reactions.