| RESEARCH ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2007 | Volume
: 6
| Issue : 4 | Page : 186-189 |
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Prescription pattern at a secondary health care facility in Ilorin, Nigeria
TM Akande1, MO Ologe2
1 Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
2 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
T M Akande
Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1459, Ilorin
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1596-3519.55699
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Background / Objectives : Expenditures due to irrational use of drugs have been a strain on the meagre health budgets of several developing countries and inappropriate prescribing has been identified in many health facilities in developing countries. This study examines the prescription pattern in a secondary health facility.
Method : A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used in this study. Three hundred and three randomly selected prescriptions issued to patients attending out-patients' clinics in the facility over a period of three months were examined. Data obtained was analyzed using EPI-INFO 2000 computer software.
Results : Mean number of drugs per prescription in the health facility is 3.99 ± 1.55. At least 4 drugs were prescribed in 61.6% of the prescriptions. Generic prescribing was generally low. Out of a total of 1219 drugs prescribed 511 (41.9%) were prescribed in generic names. Analgesics, antimalarials, antibiotics and antihypertensives accounted for 19.7%, 10.2%, 13.0% and 4.9% of the drugs prescribed respectively. Only 124 (40.9%) of the prescriptions had all drugs prescribed available in the health facility.
Conclusion : This study found practice of polypharmacy prevalent as found in other studies in developing countries among prescribers and prescription in generic names is low. Regular orientation and re-orientation of prescribers on rational drug prescription and prescription in generic names in conformity with national drug policies is necessary.
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