Abstract: Background: The proper evaluation of the prescribing indicators helps to curb the injudicious use of drugs. Keeping this point in mind the present study was designed and carried out in order to check the prescribing pattern in the orthopaedic outpatients using the WHO prescribing indicators in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Lucknow.
Methods: Data was collected from the outpatients of the orthopaedic department relating to demographics and the drug details in a structured Performa and were subsequently analyzed in accordance with the WHO prescribing indicators. The prescriptions were further analyzed for any errors relating to the prescription writing. Values were expressed in percentages.
Results: A total of 261 prescriptions were analyzed comprising 796 drugs. Out of 261 patients, 147 (56.32%) were male while 114 (43.68%) were females. Most of the patients, i.e. 137 (52.49%) belonged to the age group of 18 – 60 years. Out of the total prescriptions analyzed it was found that only 37 (14.18%) had drugs prescribed by the generic names and only 115 (44.06%) prescriptions were complete in all respect. Anti-ulcer drugs were most commonly prescribed and a total of 227 (86.97%) prescriptions had them. This was followed closely by NSAIDs with or without serratiopeptidases which formed a part of 217 (83.14%) prescriptions. Polypharmacy was an area of grave concern and the average number of drugs per prescription came out to be 3.05. A total of 128 (49.04%) prescriptions had 5 drugs written in them. The signature of the treating doctor was absent in or there was an untraceable signature in 235 (90.04%) prescriptions while the stamp of the treating doctor was absent in 216 (82.76%) cases. In 146 prescriptions (55.94%) the duration of treatment was not written and the follow up advice was not clear in 195 (74.71%) cases.
Conclusion: This study provides the insight to the prescribing pattern in outpatients of orthopaedic department. The results obtained clearly show an immediate need for the increased awareness among the physicians as well as the medical students towards the WHO recommended prescribing indicators.
