scholarly journals Morbidity profile and prescription audits using WHO core prescribing indicator in government hospitals of Province 1, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Shambhu Shah ◽  
Prasanna Dahal ◽  
Anil Kumar Sah ◽  
Surya B. Parajuli ◽  
Naveen Shrestha

Background: Periodic assessment of morbidity and drug use at various levels of healthcare delivery system is important to recognize common prevalent morbidities and rationalize the use of medicines. The study was conducted to determine the common morbidities and audit prescription using WHO prescribing indicator in government operated tertiary hospitals of eastern Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in government tertiary hospitals of Province 1, Nepal, from March 2019 to August 2019. For analysis, descriptive statistics were used.  Prescribing characteristics were evaluated using recommended guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators. Results: Six hundred prescriptions were analyzed. The most prevalent morbidity was endocrine, nutrition & metabolic diseases (21.5%) followed by diseases of the respiratory system (19.8%), circulatory system (17.6%), and digestive system (12.8%). The most frequently encountered individual disease entity were hypertension (18.7%), diabetes (15.5%), acid peptic disorders (14%). A total of 2072 drugs were prescribed with an average of 3.45 (± 1.39) drugs per consultation. About 30.2% of prescriptions encountered contain at least one antibiotics, whereas injectable were prescribed in 1.8%. Only 3.9% of total medicines were prescribed in generic name and 31.7% of drug prescribed were from essential medicine list. Conclusion: Among the prescriptions evaluated, diseases of the endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems were the most common morbidities. Polypharmacy was prevalent to some extent whereas prescribing in generic and essential medicine list was poor relative to standard WHO recommendations. However, the overall prescribing of antibiotics and injection were found to be satisfactory.

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-9
Author(s):  
Nushrat Noor ◽  
Md Jamal Uddin ◽  
Mohammad Afsan ◽  
Hafiza Akhter ◽  
Farhana Kabir

Background: Drug utilization studies are pre requisite for the formulation of drug policies. They offer useful methods for teaching and training in drug therapy and also identify the problems that arise from drug usage in healthcare delivery system and highlight the current approaches to the rational use of medicines. Objectives: The main objective of the prescription audit or evaluation was to measures for improving the prescription practices and to generate information on the core prescribing indicators proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Methods: This was a descriptive type of cross sectional study. The study was conducted in the Out Patient Department (OPD) of Dermatology & Venereology in a tertiary care private hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh in between January and March’2012. A total of 300 prescriptions were obtained with the help of a pre-inserted carbon paper in a special format using WHO core prescribing indicators. Results: The average number of drugs per encounter was 3.8 and no single drug was prescribed by generic name. Use of antibiotic (56% of encounters) was frequent, but injection use (2.67% of encounters) was within the recommendation of WHO. The use of fixed drug combinations (FDCs) was 15.28% of prescribed drugs. Only 22.08% drugs were prescribed from national essential medicine list. Conclusion: The findings from the current study showed a trend towards inappropriate prescribing. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/updcj.v4i1.21158 Update Dent. Coll. j: 2014; 4 (1): 04-09


Author(s):  
Abha Ekka ◽  
Shubra A. Gupta ◽  
Divya Sahu ◽  
Anmol Madhur Minj ◽  
G. P. Soni

Background: Availability of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) is one of interventions to reduce maternal and newborn deaths. The health system fails when effective and affordable health interventions do not reach the population, when Poor infrastructure, drugs and equipment are lacking, and qualified human resources are scarce. The objective of the present study was to assess the availability of EmOC infrastructure in first referral units (FRUs) of Surguja division, Chhattisgarh.Methods: A cross sectional study was designated with 13 FRUs of Surguja division. A semi structured, closed-ended questionnaires was observed on the basis of check list, reviewing record, and interview by available staff.Results: FRUs of Surguja division for physical infrastructure scored 68.5%, for essential medicine 69.2%, for equipments 50.7%, for instruments 45.3% and for availability of blood 34.6%, for health man power category of specialist score was 25.7% but for supportive staff 65.4%.Conclusions: Our study revealed three existing bottlenecks in the healthcare delivery system as inadequate civil infrastructure, short fall of specialists as well as inadequate supplies of drugs and equipment, hampering the function of facility.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e045262
Author(s):  
Michael Sergio Taglione ◽  
Nav Persaud

ObjectiveEssential medicines lists have been created and used globally in countries that range from low-income to high-income status. The aim of this paper is to compare the essential medicines list of high-income countries with each other, the WHO’s Model List of Essential Medicines and the lists of countries of other income statuses.DesignHigh-income countries were defined by World Bank classification. High-income essential medicines lists were assessed for medicine inclusion and were compared with the subset of high-income countries, the WHO’s Model List and 137 national essential medicines lists. Medicine lists were obtained from the Global Essential Medicines database. Countries were subdivided by income status, and the groups’ most common medicines were compared. Select medicines and medicine classes were assessed for inclusion among high-income country lists.ResultsThe 21 high-income countries identified were most like each other when compared with other lists. They were more like upper middle-income countries and least like low-income countries. There was significant variability in the number of medicines on each list. Less than half (48%) of high-income countries included a newer diabetes medicines in their list. Most countries (71%) included naloxone while every country including at least one opioid medicine. More than half of the lists (52%) included a medicine that has been globally withdrawn or banned.ConclusionEssential medicines lists of high-income countries are similar to each other, but significant variations in essential medicine list composition and specifically the number of medications included were noted. Effective medicines were left off several countries’ lists, and globally recalled medicines were included on over half the lists. Comparing the essential medicines lists of countries within the same income status category can provide a useful subset of lists for policymakers and essential medicine list creators to use when creating or maintaining their lists.


Author(s):  
Dimie Ogoina ◽  
Garba Iliyasu ◽  
Vivian Kwaghe ◽  
Akan Otu ◽  
Iorhen Ephram Akase ◽  
...  

Abstract Background As part of the Global Action Plan against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), countries are required to generate local evidence to inform context-specific implementation of national action plans against AMR (NAPAR). We aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding antibiotic prescriptions (APR) and AMR among physicians in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, and to determine predictors of KAP of APR and AMR. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled physicians practicing in tertiary hospitals from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASP) by each selected hospital were assessed using a 12 item ASP checklist. We used a structured self-administered questionnaire to assess the KAP of APR and AMR. Frequency of prescriptions of 18 different antibiotics in the prior 6 months was assessed using a Likert’s scale. KAP and prescription (Pr) scores were classified as good (score ≥ 80%) or average/poor (score < 80%). Independent predictors of good knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAPPr) were ascertained using an unconditional logistic regression model. Results A total of 1324 physicians out of 1778 (74% response rate) practicing in 12 tertiary hospitals in 11 states across all six geopolitical zones participated in the study. None of the participating hospitals had a formal ASP programme and majority did not implement antimicrobial stewardship strategies. The median KAPPr scores were 71.1%, 77%, 75% and 53.3%, for the knowledge, attitude, practice, and prescription components, respectively. Only 22.3%, 40.3%, 31.6% and 31.7% of study respondents had good KAPPr, respectively. All respondents had prescribed one or more antibiotics in the prior 6 months, mostly Amoxicillin-clavulanate (98%), fluoroquinolones (97%), and ceftriaxone (96.8%). About 68% of respondents had prescribed antibiotics from the World Health Organization reserve group. Prior AMR training, professional rank, department, and hospital of practice were independently associated with good KAPPr. Conclusions Our study suggests gaps in knowledge and attitude of APR and AMR with inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics among physicians practicing in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Nigeria’s NAPAR should also target establishment and improvement of ASP in hospitals and address institutional, educational, and professional factors that may influence emergence of AMR in Nigeria.


Author(s):  
Arijit Ghosh ◽  
Anjan Adhikari ◽  
Rania Indu ◽  
Srijita Ghosh ◽  
Santosh Banik ◽  
...  

Background: Rational use of drugs is essential to ensure safety and welfare of patients. Thus, prescription audits are conducted to monitor the practice of writing prescriptions. Various standard parameters have been rationalized by World Health Organization (WHO) in order to regulate drug utilization, globally. Present study aimed to compare the pattern of prescriptions generated in different healthcare centres of West Bengal.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the inpatient and outpatient departments of RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, in order to evaluate the prescriptions. Literature was also surveyed with the keywords “prescription audit”, “West Bengal”, to extract data on prescription audits conducted in various other hospitals of West Bengal. The WHO prescribing indicators of all these health facilities were then compared to estimate the rationality of drug prescribed by different physicians.Results: Seven published reports of prescription audits were published from the period of 2013 to 2017, the distribution being- 2 health facilities from Kolkata, 2 from Burdwan, 1 each from Bankura, Murshidabad and North Bengal. WHO standards were not strictly followed by any of the hospitals. Polypharmacy level were higher in all the hospitals. Drugs were mostly prescribed from the essential medicine list (EML).Conclusions: Present study clearly indicated that it is essential to improve these parameters for most of the healthcare centres in order to prevent irrational use of drugs. Prescription audits should also be implemented regularly so that the patients can receive better treatment at minimum cost with suitable rational therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Li ◽  
Liang Zhang ◽  
Zhong Li ◽  
Wenxi Tang

Introduction: Gatekeeping mechanism of primary care institutions (PCIs) is essential in promoting tiered healthcare delivery system in China. However, patients seeking for higher-level institutions instead of gatekeepers as their first contact has persisted in the past decade. This study aims to explain patients' choice and willingness and to provide potential solutions.Methods: A survey was conducted among residents who had received medical care within the previous 14 days. Patients' choice and willingness of PCIs for first contact together with influencing factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression.Results: Of 728 sampled patients in Hubei, 55.22% chose PCIs for first contact. Patients who are older, less educated, with lower family income, not living near non-PCIs, with better self-perceived health status, only buying medicines, and living in rural instead of urban area had significantly higher probability of choosing PCIs. As of willingness, over 90% of the patients inclined to have the same choice for their first contact under similar health conditions. Service capability was the primary reason limiting patients' choice of PCIs.Conclusions: The gatekeeper system did not achieve its goal which was 70% of PCIs among all kinds of institutions for first contact. Future measures should aim to improve gate-keepers' capability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma Al-Jabri ◽  
Tarja Kvist ◽  
Reijo Sund ◽  
Hannele Turunen

Abstract Background Oman’s healthcare system has rapidly transformed in recent years. A recent Report of Quality and Patient Safety has nevertheless highlighted decreasing levels of patient safety and quality culture among healthcare professionals. This indicates the need to assess the quality of care and patient safety from the perspectives of both patients and healthcare professionals. Objectives This study aimed to examine (1) patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives on overall quality of care and patient safety standards at two tertiary hospitals in Oman and (2) which demographic characteristics are related to the overall quality of care and patient safety. Methods A cross-sectional study design was employed. Data were collected by two items: overall quality of care and patient safety, incorporated in the Revised Humane Caring Scale, and Healthcare Professional Core Competency Instrument. Questionnaires were distributed to (1) patients (n = 600) and (2) healthcare professionals (nurses and physicians) (n = 246) in three departments (medical, surgical and obstetrics and gynaecology) at two tertiary hospitals in Oman towards the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results A total of 367 patients and 140 healthcare professionals completed the questionnaires, representing response rates of 61.2% and 56.9%, respectively. Overall, quality of care and patient safety were perceived as high, with the healthcare professionals rating quality of care (M = 4.36; SD = 0.720) and patient safety (M = 4.39; SD = 0.675) slightly higher than the patients did (M = 4.23; SD = 0.706), (M = 4.22; SD = 0.709). The findings indicated an association between hospital variables and overall quality of care (OR = 0.095; 95% CI = 0.016–0.551; p = 0.009) and patient safety (OR = 0.153; 95% CI = 0.027–0.854; p = 0.032) among healthcare professionals. Additionally, an association between the admission/work area and participants’ perspectives on the quality of care (patients, OR = 0.257; 95% CI = 0.072–0.916; p = 0.036; professionals, OR = 0.093; 95% CI = 0.009–0.959; p = 0.046) was found. Conclusions The perspectives of both patients and healthcare professionals showed that they viewed both quality of care and patient safety as excellent, with slight differences, indicating a high level of patient satisfaction and competent healthcare delivery professionals. Such perspectives can provide meaningful and complementary insights on improving the overall standards of healthcare delivery systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly R. Gate ◽  
Nompumelelo G. Mfeka-Nkabinde ◽  
Kantharuben Naidoo

Background: Childhood malnutrition in South Africa is largely perceived as one of undernutrition, with the opposite end of the spectrum (overnutrition) being evidenced in the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, demonstrated to be associated with chronic metabolic diseases in adulthood. Targeting childhood malnutrition is a potential interventional strategy to prevent non-communicable diseases amongst adults. As the prevalence of malnutrition (undernutrition and overnutrition) in rural, northern KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, is largely unknown, this study aimed to determine the baseline nutritional status of children attending primary healthcare facilities within the Bethesda Hospital catchment area.Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional study included children aged 6 weeks to 19 years, attending any primary healthcare clinics for over a 3 months period. Anthropometric measurements were obtained to categorise the children according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) nutritional classifications.Results: Stunting in children aged less than 5 years was found to be lower (14%) than nationally representative studies (27%); however, 14.4% of the infants aged 6 weeks to 5 months were overweight, increasing to 32.3% in those aged 14–19 years. Males in the 6-weeks to 5-month age group were more likely to be overweight/obese and stunted than females in the same age group.Conclusion: Undernutrition is showing a downward trend, which is a testament to initiatives to reduce food insecurity amongst the poor. However, the emerging upward trend of overweight/obesity in children of all ages, indicates the need to have a national discussion on over- and undernutrition, its causes and implications.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimie Ogoina ◽  
Garba Iliyasu ◽  
Vivian Kwaghe ◽  
Akan Otu ◽  
Iorhen Ephram Akase ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundAs part of the Global Action Plan against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), countries are required to generate local evidence to inform context-specific implementation of national action plans against AMR (NAPAR). We aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding antibiotic prescriptions (APR) and AMR among physicians in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, and to determine predictors of KAP of APR and AMR. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we enrolled physicians practicing in tertiary hospitals from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASP) by each selected hospital were assessed using a 12 item ASP checklist. We used a structured self-administered questionnaire to assess the KAP of APR and AMR. Frequency of prescriptions of 18 different antibiotics in the prior six months was assessed using a Likert’s scale. KAP and prescription (Pr) scores were classified as good (score≥80%) or average/poor (score<80%). Independent predictors of good knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAPPr) were ascertained using an unconditional logistic regression model. ResultsA total of 1324 physicians out of 1778 (74% response rate) practicing in 12 tertiary hospitals in 11 states across all six geopolitical zones participated in the study. None of the participating hospitals had a formal ASP programme and majority did not implement antimicrobial stewardship strategies. The median KAPPr scores were 71.1%, 77 %, 75% and 53.3%, for the knowledge, attitude, practice, and prescription components, respectively. Only 22.3%, 40.3%, 31.6% and 31.7% of study respondents had good KAPPr, respectively. All respondents had prescribed one or more antibiotics in the prior six months, mostly Amoxicillin-clavulanate (98%), fluoroquinolones (97%), and ceftriaxone (96.8%). About 68% of respondents had prescribed antibiotics from the World Health Organization (WHO) reserve group. Prior AMR training, professional rank, department, and hospital of practice were independently associated with good KAPPr.ConclusionsOur study suggests gaps in knowledge and attitude of APR and AMR with inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics among physicians practicing in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Nigeria’s NAPAR should also target establishment and improvement of ASP in hospitals and address institutional, educational, and professional factors that may influence emergence of AMR in Nigeria.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 2872-2875
Author(s):  
Sidra Mushtaq ◽  
Fatima Javed ◽  
Mufakhara Fatimah ◽  
Zaeem Sohail Jafar ◽  
Syeda Tahira Zaidi ◽  
...  

Background: Medicines play a crucial role in the healthcare delivery of a hospital. The appropriate use of medicines gives us assessment of the quality of health services being provided in a particular region. Aim: To evaluate the prescribing practices and antibiotic utilization patterns so that the extent of irrational use can be assessed by comparing them with published ideal values set by WHO. Study design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Teaching Hospital of Faisalabad: Independent University Hospital (IUH), from Jan 2018 to June/July 2018. Methodology: 200 cases were selected through systematic random sampling from medicine/surgery wards and pharmacy registers. The standard World Health Organization prescribing indicators and AWaRe categorization of antibiotics were used to assess the prescribing practices of physicians/surgeons. Published ideal standards for each of the indicators were compared with study findings to identify extent of irrational drug use. Results: Most of the facility indicators were met with. The Drug and Therapeutic Committee (DTC) was functional. The Standard treatment guideline booklets (STGs) and Essential Drugs List (EDL) of the hospital were available. 88% of the key drugs listed in EDL were available in stock. The expenditure on antibiotics compared to total medicines was 17%. Regarding prescribing indicators: the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 6 (optimal value 1.6–1.8). Average no of antibiotic per prescription amounted to almost 1 (0.925). % prescriptions with an antibiotic amounted to 72% (optimal value 20-26.8%).72% antibiotics were prescribed from the EDL formulary of the hospital (optimal value 100%). Conclusion: Regarding compliance with prescribing indicators and AWaRe categorization of antibiotics by WHO, significant deviation was observed. Education and training of physicians according to WHO parameters is required to ensure rational prescribing. Keywords: Prescription pattern, WHO Prescribing Indicators, AWaRe Categorization


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