ABSTRACT
Background: By recognizing the need to promote rational utilization of medicines, the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) developed a set of core indicators. This study aimed to investigate drug use based on it.Methods: The study was performed in Primary Health Centers (PHC) in Nashik District, Maharashtra, India. Prescriptions data for the last one year from PHCs were sampled out retrospectively. Outpatients from PHCs were selected, observed and interviewed for the patient-care indicators, prospectively. Pharmacy personnel was interviewed for the facility-specific indicators. The data were analyzed; results and conclusions were drawn.Results: The average number of drugs per prescription was 3.48 (SD=0.36). The percentages of drugs prescribed by generic name and from Essential Drug List or formulary were 83.98% and 68.97% respectively. The percentages of encounters with antibiotics and injections were 60.33% and 50.83% respectively. The average consultation and dispensing times were 3.89 minutes and 58.28 seconds respectively. 98.19% of the prescribed drugs were actually dispensed. 67.27% of the dispensed drugs were labelled. The percentage of patients’ knowledge of the correct dosage was 87.78%. The percentage availability of the EDL or formulary was 100% and of the key drugs in the stock was 85.71%.Conclusions: The need for improvement in prescribing practices can be encouraged by devising strategies such as training to physicians, rewards systems, etc. There should be plans to increase staff members for a particular working period and to educate patients with healthcare, hygiene, medicines’ compliance and common diseases.
ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease which affects the quality of life. It leads to multiple complications due to metabolic involvement. Out of multiple drugs used to treat diabetes, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are comparatively new drugs used for type-2-diabetes mellitus (DM) treatment. This study aimed to find out the drug utilization (DU) 90% and use of DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with type-2-DM.Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at a private healthcare clinic of an endocrinologist in Nashik. Type-2-DM patients of both sexes were selected and a total of 199 patients were enrolled in the study. The consented patients were interviewed and prescription copies were collected. After studying them; statistical analysis was done and results and conclusions were drawn.Results: Out of total prescribed drugs, 58.77% of drugs were anti-diabetics. It was observed that the biguanides were most frequently (25.32%) prescribed while the least prescribed drugs were meglitinide analogues (0.08%). Most commonly utilized anti-diabetic found to be metformin. Vildagliptin 50 mg is the most commonly prescribed drug from DPP-4 inhibitors. Most of the drugs from the DPP-4 inhibitor group came under DU90%.Conclusions:DPP-4 inhibitors are showing wide acceptability by endocrinologists for type-2-DM management, according to this study. Performing repetitive drug utilization pattern study and circulation of standard treatment guidelines to practising physicians can be required. To emphasize the point on generic prescription, more awareness should be created. So that these can responses to further cost-effective and rational prescribing practices.