An outpatient-based observational study on demography, self-medication practice, and prescribing pattern in dermatophytosis at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Eastern India

ABSTRACT

Background: Appropriate use of drugs is essential in dermatophytosis to reduce morbidity and associated financial burden to the sufferers. Aims and Objectives: To explore the demographic characteristics along with the prescription pattern, self-medication practice, and price variability of the prescribed brands in the treatment of the dermatophytosis patients. Materials and Methods: Newly diagnosed consented dermatophytosis patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. Their baseline demographic characteristics were documented in the case report form along with the prescription details with self-medication history and Maximum Retail Price of each prescribed brand of drug. Results: Among total of 114 subjects (68 males, 46 females), majority were young (56.14%, <33 y). Most common diagnosis was tinea cruris followed by combination of tinea cruris and corporis. Average monthly family income was 11469.29 ± 10027.5 INR. Brand prescription was (74.15%), higher than generic (25.84%). Oral formulations were more prescribed (54.83%) than topical (45.16%) whereas individually luliconazole (cream) topped (23.18%) in the list. No topical or systemic steroid was prescribed. The commonest drug regimen was capsule itraconazole, luliconazole cream, and cetirizine or levocetirizine tablet with or without ketoconazole soap or tea tree body wash (71/114, 62.28%). About 39.47% subjects practiced self-medication, topical steroids (37.20%) mostly used. Price variability (percentage) among brands of the same drug was highest in ketoconazole soap (138.66%), followed by terbinafine tablet 250 mg (89.50%) followed by itraconazole capsule (83.33%). Conclusion: Luliconazole cream, itraconazole (capsule/tablet), terbinafine (tablet) and ketoconazole soap were the highly prescribed antifungal agents whereas topical steroid was mostly preferred as self-medication. Prescription of generic drugs should be promoted as well as inappropriate use of self-medication should be discouraged among the prescribers and the patients respectively.