Evaluation of rational prescribing in a hospital paediatric outpatient clinic in Nigeria.
Epidemiology
Health services research
Therapeutics
Journal
BMJ paediatrics open
ISSN: 2399-9772
Titre abrégé: BMJ Paediatr Open
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101715309
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
10 2022
10 2022
Historique:
received:
23
06
2022
accepted:
29
09
2022
entrez:
16
1
2023
pubmed:
17
1
2023
medline:
19
1
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Irrational prescribing is a continuing public health issue in low/middle-income countries. This study evaluated the drug use pattern of medicines in paediatrics aged below 12 years attending the outpatient paediatric clinic of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted using patients' medical records who attended the outpatient paediatric clinic from 1 January to 30 April 2022. The WHO prescribing indicators and guidelines for investigating drug use in health facilities were used. A total of 800 prescriptions containing 2723 drugs were analysed, with a mean number of drugs per prescription of 3.4. A total of 651 patients (81.3%) had at least one antibiotic, and the number of encounters with injection was 17.5% (140 patients). Prescribing by generic name was done for 1406 (51.6%) drugs; of the 2723 drugs prescribed, 2441 (89.6%) were from the WHO Pediatric Essential Medication List. In addition, 80% of the prescriptions contained antimalaria. Analgesics/antipyretics were the most frequently prescribed medicine (87.9%). The findings of this study deviated from the WHO recommended standards. There is a need to target paediatric clinics further and enforce national strategies to tackle non-standard prescribing practices among the paediatric population.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Irrational prescribing is a continuing public health issue in low/middle-income countries. This study evaluated the drug use pattern of medicines in paediatrics aged below 12 years attending the outpatient paediatric clinic of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
METHOD
An observational cross-sectional study was conducted using patients' medical records who attended the outpatient paediatric clinic from 1 January to 30 April 2022. The WHO prescribing indicators and guidelines for investigating drug use in health facilities were used.
RESULT
A total of 800 prescriptions containing 2723 drugs were analysed, with a mean number of drugs per prescription of 3.4. A total of 651 patients (81.3%) had at least one antibiotic, and the number of encounters with injection was 17.5% (140 patients). Prescribing by generic name was done for 1406 (51.6%) drugs; of the 2723 drugs prescribed, 2441 (89.6%) were from the WHO Pediatric Essential Medication List. In addition, 80% of the prescriptions contained antimalaria. Analgesics/antipyretics were the most frequently prescribed medicine (87.9%).
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study deviated from the WHO recommended standards. There is a need to target paediatric clinics further and enforce national strategies to tackle non-standard prescribing practices among the paediatric population.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36645753
pii: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001585
doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001585
pmc: PMC9562308
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Observational Study
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.
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