Abstract

PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ANALGESICS IN ORTHOPEDIC OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SILCHAR, ASSAM.

Ayan Purkayastha*, Dolly Roy, Rohit Tigga and Dipjyoti Deka

ABSTRACT

Background: Analgesics are one of the most commonly used group of drugs that are prescribed in the orthopedics outpatient department (OPD) for the relief of pain. The study was conducted with the aim of analysing the prescribing pattern of analgesics in orthopedics OPD and to correlate their use in clinical practice. Methods: A prospective, observational, non interventional, hospital based study was carried out for the period of three months between April 2013 and June 2013 in the out-patient department. of Orthopedics at Silchar Medical College and Hospital. Adult patients (>18years) of either sex who visited the outdoor for the first time and prescribed with analgesic drugs were included in the study. The parameters that were analyzed were: type of analgesics prescribed, use of monotherapy or combined therapy and the duration of therapy. Results: A total of 300 prescriptions were analyzed. Of these, 81.3% were NSAIDs, 18.7% were opioid analgesics. 73.7% contained non selective NSAIDs, 7.6 % had selective NSAIDs. 55.3% of the NSAIDs were prescribed as monotherapy and 44.7 % were prescribed as fixed dose combination (FDC). 65.3% of the prescription contained Proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Conclusions: From our study we can conclude that in our institution, non selective NSAIDs are preferred over selective NSAIDs, monotherapy is preferred over two or three drug therapy and gastroprotective agents are routinely prescribed with analgesics.

Keywords: Analgesics, Prescription pattern, Orthopedics, Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs.