Drug Use Pattern with Standard Indicators in Jos University Teaching Hospital Nigeria

Background: Drug use pattern is assessed through prescribers; dispensers; and patients.The indicators used formonitoring include; health-facility; prescribing and patient care indicators. Objectives: The study was aimed at determining the drug use pattern by measuring core indicators in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH); Nigeria; from 2010 to 2011; and to compare findings with similar institutions globally.Methods: Drug-specific analysis employed research tools using nine-item questionnaires; checklists and standard patient care forms. Data was obtained from patients who visited the hospital; within the period of thisstudy.Results: The study revealed that out of the total drugs prescribed; 85.3 were dispensed and the average number of drugs per prescription was three. About 70.2 of drugs were prescribed by generic names while therest were by brand names. Drugs prescribed from the hospital formulary were 88 with antibiotics being themost prescribed (35.3) while the least prescribed were injections (9) with no significant variation (p0.05)for the indicators measured during the period. Responses to questions on drug use produced positive results(85) in six out of the nine research items. Average consultation time was 11.33 minutes and dispensing timegave 3.53 minutes.Conclusion: The drug use pattern in JUTH was satisfactory compared to national and international findings. The core indicators measured underscored the need for pharmacists to provide drug information and counseling needs to patients and could serve as basis for further studies on drug use for hospitals in resource limited settings. Conclusion: The drug use pattern in JUTH was satisfactory compared to national and international findings. Thecore indicators measured underscored the need for pharmacists to provide drug information and counseling needs to patients and could serve as basis for further studies on drug use for hospitals in resource limited settings

Women and drugs

"Medicines are a corner stone in health care provision but they have their limitation and they are certainly not part of the solution of each and every health problem. It is important that individuals and communities learn to use drugs in an appropriate safe and judicius way. For women the need for information skills and confidence in the use of drugs must always be aware of this fact. There are problems associated with taking too many or too few drugs; too much or too little medicne. To be really effective drugs have to be taken in the right quantities at the right time and in the right way. In France in 1992; a public health campaign had as its annual message; ""Don't Take Drugs Lightly; Think Before Using Drugs"". In the use of drugs women have not only to think about themselves but also for their children and all those whom they nurse. More and more women have to have the confidence to ask their doctors; nurses or pharmacists questions about the medicines they receive. What is it? What does it do? Can I take other drugs at the same time? Is it really necessary? It is also quite important for women to get rid of the belief that ""there is a pill for every illness"". Many pain and aches will pass away just as well or even better without any medication."

Gestion du medicament

La gestion du medicament consiste entre autres a assurer aux populations un approvisionnement continu en medicaments de bonne qualite aux populations a des prix qu'elles peuvent assumer. Elle necessite plusieurs activites qui vont de la selection des medicaments a l'utilisation du medicament par le malade. Le present document s'efforcera de mettre en evidence certains aspects importants de la gestion du medicament; notamment ceux qui ont trait a la selection; a la quantification; a l'achat; a la production locale; au controle de la qualite; a la distribution; a la formation; a la recherche; a l'information relative au medicament; a la cooperation avec les organisations gouvernementales et non gouvernementales; ainsi qu'au financement d'un systeme d'approvisionnement en medicament

Drug information for patients in the community

The failure of patience to follow drug regimens may be due to lack of information or the negative attitudes of patients and health care providers. We have found that most patients in rural areas did not ask for information about their treatment because they felt their health carers had little time for such matters. These problems will continue unless practitioners at all levels make better efforts to understand their patients' perceptions of illness and treatment; and especially whether compliance with drug treatment is feasible