Assessment of rational drug use patterns in Public Hospitals in North Gondar, Amhara National Regional State,Ethiopia.

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.