Abstract

A STUDY ON DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN OUTPATIENT PAEDIATRIC DEPARTMENT

D. R. Brahma Reddy*, V. Satyanarayana, M. Bhavani, M. Suresh Kumar, R. Tejaswi, S. Sharon

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Paediatrics is relating to the branch of science that deals with the medical care of infants, children and adolescents. Drug utilization evaluation play a significant role in helping the health-care system to understand, explain and improve the prescribing administration and use of medications. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in paediatrics differs from that of adults. Our knowledge of pharmacology of the drugs used in paediatrics has advanced with a greater understanding of their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Prescription analysis may helpful to patients to increase the medication adherence, Patient safety, Economic status and decrease the irrational use of drugs. Prescription analysis helps in promoting rational use of drugs in which right drug is prescribed for right condition in right dose and duration and gives information about any dispensing errors. The ultimate goal is to achieve rational and effective pharmaceutical care to the paediatrics. This has resulted in a clarification of their uses, wider indications, and alternative methods of delivery. Drug utilization evaluation studies become one of the powerful tools in evaluation of health system. Drug utilization studies focuses on factors related to prescribing, dispensing, administering and taking of medication and associated events. Method: We conducted a single centered observational and prospective analysis of paediatrics age below 12 years at Ala hospital, Amaravathi road, Guntur. A total number of 478 prescriptions were recorded. The drug data such as name of the drug, dosage form, dosing frequency, route of administration were also noted. The data obtained and the patient related parameters were computed using SPSS. The results were presented as percentage. Conclusion: This study provides the information about the prescribing patterns of drugs in the paediatric outpatient department. And conclude the role of clinical pharmacist is vital to be an integral part well as to clear the irrational use of medicines in paediatrics. Pharmaceutical care is needed in the correct management of drugs which is even more important in case of paediatric patients. The WHO core indicators helped to improvise the prescribing pattern, identify significant problems involved in the knowledge gap of patients or caretakers understanding of instructions provided by consultants and even to minimize the cost burden on patient.

Keywords: Paediatrics, Prescription pattern, drug utilization evaluation.