Abstract

DRUG PRESCRIPTION PATTERN AMONG BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN A CANCER HOSPITAL OF NEPAL

Ganga Poudel, Punam Gauchan and Shila Gurung*

ABSTRACT

Background: Breast cancer is a malignant tumor of breast cells. It has become a substantial burden on the Nepalese healthcare system. The socioeconomic disparities, insufficient financial resources and lack of awareness hinder the prevention and treatment of breast cancer in Nepal. Surgery, systemic chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the commonly used treatment modalities in breast cancer. Objective(s): The study is aimed at assessing the drug prescription pattern among breast cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Nepal. The purposive sampling technique was performed in a day-care unit among the breast cancer patients meeting the inclusion criteria for three months. A standard data collection form was used to collect information on patient demographics and prescribed drugs. Standardized prescribing indicators were used to evaluate the drug prescription pattern. Data were analyzed using the statistical package of social science (SPSS) version 16. Descriptive statistics were used to present demographic profiles, clinical profiles and prescription patterns. Results: Among 86 patients enrolled, the majority of the patients were in the age group 40-59 years. About 51 % of patients were found to be in stage II and 29 % in stage III. Anticancer drugs such as Cyclophosphamide (34%), Doxorubicin (19%), Taxane (20 %) and 5-fluorouracil (14 %) were the prescribed from the national essential medicine list 2016 (59.32 %) and WHO essential drug list 2019 (57.35 %) with brand names. Conclusions: The study suggests an urgent improvement in prescription pattern of drugs used in breast cancer by following the recommended prescription guidelines.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Prescription pattern, WHO Essential drug list, Anticancer drugs.