A critical review of prescriptions in internal medicine.

A study was undertaken to assess the prescribing trends in inpatients of the Internal Medicine Department of Government General Hospital which is attached to Guntur Medical College, Guntur. Prescriptions for 250 patients were audited under various heads like details of drugs used, generic versus trade name prescribing, dosage, dosage form, dose interval, drug of choice and duration of treatment. Among 250 prescriptions audited, 7 percent used generic names, 22 percent trade names, and 71 percent combinations of both generic and trade names. Dosages and dosage intervals were appropriate. In 75 percent of the audited cases, the duration of treatment was appropriate; 25 percent did not specify the duration. The choice of drugs was proper in 84 percent and inappropriate in 16 percent of cases. Certain deficiencies in the prescribing trends are analysed.