Evaluation of Drug Use Pattern in Dermatology as a Tool to Promote Rational Prescribing.

ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the format, prescribing pattern and rationality of prescriptions of the patients attending Dermatology Out Patient Department of a tertiary care hospital for a period of one year. A total of 5,355 prescriptions were analyzed in which 17,459 drugs were prescribed with an average of 3.26 drugs per prescription. The patient's name and age was mentioned in all the prescriptions while superscription, dosage form, duration of therapy and prescriber's identity was written in 95.4%, 100%, 80.7% and 23.5% prescriptions respectively. Out of all drugs, 15.4% were from National Essential Drug List of India. Antihistamines (16.9%) were the most common group of drugs used, followed by corticosteroids (15.3%). Most of the drugs were given by topical route (60.2%). Dosage and dose schedule of drugs was written for 91.2% and 94.7% drugs respectively. The study showed a tendency towards polypharmacy and prescribing by proprietary names.