ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The Rational use of Medicines requires that patients receives medicines appropriate to their clinical needs in doses that meet their own individual requirements, for an adequate period of time and at the lowest cost to them and the community.(WHO, 1985).The full potential of medicines are only realized when use rationally.
Objectives
To assess prescribing patterns for pediatrics using W.H.O prescribing indicators in a public hospital in Benin City, Edo State.
To evaluate the dispensing practices by pharmacists for pediatrics in a public hospital in Benin City, Edo State.
Methods:
Study Design:
This is both a retrospective and prospective cross-sectional study to assess for rational use of medicines in paediatric out -patients at the Central Hospital Benin, Benin City.
Study Site:
The study was conducted at the paediatrics Pharmacy department and paediatric medical records department of Central Hospital Benin, Benin City, Edo State.
Study population:
paediatric out-patients between the ages of 1day and 16years whose prescriptions were dispensed within the months of January and February 2022. Pharmacists, pharmacy interns in paediatric pharmacy and parents/caregivers of pediatric patients were also involved for dispensing practices
Data Collection: The W.H.O Patient care form was used to obtain information on pharmaceutical dispensing; a structured, researcher administered questionnaire was administered to pharmacists and pharmacy interns. Four hundred case/prescription files for the months of January and February,2022 were retrieved and assessed using the W.H.O drug use prescribing indicators.
Data Analysis
WHO drug use indicators were used for analysis of data collected.
Ethical Considerations:
Institutional ethical clearance was obtained from the Edo State Hospital Management Board(Ref: A732/T/1).
Results
The total number of drugs prescribed was 1105, of these, 805 drugs(72.9%) were prescribed with generic names. Antibiotics were prescribed for 296 (74%) patients.
Injections were prescribed for 23 (17.5%) patients. Of the 1105 drugs prescribed, 1023 (92.6%) were on the Essential Medicine List.
Conclusion
This study identified irrational use of medicines involving polypharmacy, high use of antibiotics and non- adherence to generic prescribing in paediatrics.
Dispensing practices in pediatrics was not optimal especially in the areas of poor packaging materials, inappropriate labeling of dispensed medicines and documentation of dispensing.
Key words:
Rational use of medicines, paediatrics, irrational use of medicines, W.H.O drug use indicators
