Abstract:
Background: Rational use of drugs is an essential element in achieving quality of health and
medical care for patients and the community as a whole. Irrational drug use is prevalent,
especially in the developing countries due to irrational prescribing, dispensing, patient
adherence, and drug availability. Studies of rational drug use patterns at hospital level are
important in order to overcome the problem.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess rational drug use pattern in public hospitals in
North Gondar, Amhara National Regional state, Ethiopia, 2015.
Methods: A Hospital based cross-sectional study design was used to assess rational drug use
patterns in North Gondar hospitals. A thousand prescriptions from outpatient pharmacy
department which were written and dispensed from July 1, 2013 to Jun 30, 2014 and 384 patients
who visited outpatient pharmacy departments were included in the study. Data was collected by
prescription review and face –to-face interview. Descriptive statistics were done. Analysis of
variance and chi square test was used to compare hospitals during data analysis.
Results: - Average numbers of drugs ranged from 1.67 to 1.90 with a mean of 1.76 (SD=0.883).
Drugs prescribed by generic name were 92.6%. Percentage of drugs with antibiotics and
injections were 25.6% and 5.6%, respectively. Ninety one point six percent, 97.4%, and 8.3% of
patients had adequate knowledge about the dose, frequency and possible side effect of the
dispensed drugs respectively. Average consultation and dispensing time spent between the
patient and dispenser ranged from 2.06 to 3.13 and 1.13 to 1.44 with a mean of 2.3(SD=1.18)
and 1.32(SD=0.93) minutes respectively. Average labeled drugs dispensed to patients were 25%.
Conclusion: - Average number of drugs, antibiotics and injections prescribing practice met the
optimal value of WHO standards while patient consultation time, labeling of drugs and patient
knowledge on dispensed drugs need improvement in order to enhance use of drugs by patients.
