Drug Utilization Survey in Pediatric Outpatients of Karachi, Pakistan

作者：Nesar Shagufta; Rahim Najia^*; Huma Ambreen; Mumtaz Tayyaba; Fatima Bilqees

来源：Latin American Journal of Pharmacy, 2018, 37(7): 1292-1295.

• drug utilization
• pediatric outpatient
• prospective study
• WHO core indicators

Pediatric patients are more susceptible to the various adverse drug effects. It is very significant to study about drug use practices in pediatric patients. The aim of current study was to analyze the drug prescribing pattern and utilization in different pediatric out-patient settings in Karachi, Pakistan. A prospective study was performed involving patients up to 12 years of age. The study period was December 2017 to January 2018. The prescriptions were analyzed for prescribing errors (PEs). A total of 854 PEs were perceived in 408 prescriptions evaluated. The most recurrent PE was the patient's weight not mentioned in (67.2%) prescriptions followed by omission of prescriber's signature (39.7%). The pattern of prescribing was also investigated according to WHO core indicators. 1216 drugs were prescribed in 408 prescriptions and average number of drugs per prescription was 2.98 +/- 1.5. Medicines prescribed by generic name were 10% and the percentage encounter with antibiotics and injections were 53.4% and 49.1%, respectively. Antipyretic was the frequently prescribed (50%) class of drugs. Cephalosporin was the leading antibiotic (20.1%) prescribed followed by penicillin (12.3%). The present research accentuates practice of pediatricians related to prescribing by brand names and irrational use of antibiotics and injectable.

• 出版日期2018