Vol. 8, Issue 9 (2019)

Author(s):
Uwase Ines Marie Aimee, S Ananthi, Mohanta GP and PK Kaviyarasan

Abstract:
A study on drug utilization is important for educational, clinical and pharmacoeconomic purpose. It describes the pattern of drug utilization and identifies the problems that arise from drug use. This study was an observational study conducted on patients attending the dermatology department. A random once weekly data collection was done for 6 months duration. Patient related information and drug related information (like dose, dosage form, adverse drug reaction, cost minimization and patient education) was recorded on a data collection sheet. During the study 50 prescriptions of 25 (50%) males and 21 (42%) females, 2(4%) of children were analyzed. A total of 74 drugs prescribed with an average of 1.48 drugs per prescription. Most of them were having dermatitis problems (28%),followed by psoriasis (12%). The most prescribed categories agents were vitamins (39 or 78%) followed by antihistamine (31 or 62%) and antifungal (30 or 60%). Among to the antihistamine chlorpheniramine was most commonly prescribed and to the antibiotic cefotaxime was most commonly prescribed. The cost minimization analysis of skin drug was found that combination of (clobetasol propionate + salicylic) gel 100% are most expensive. This study finds that generic prescription is very low and suggests that effort must be made to encourage prescribers for generic prescribing which may have a multitude of benefits including cost effectiveness. The average number of drugs per one prescription is less than WHO standard (< 2). Antihistamines, antifungal and antibiotics dominated the prescribing pattern in this study.