A retrospective, cross-sectional study to evaluate prescribing habits at a Referral Hospital in Kenya based on who prescribing indicators

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate prescribing practices at a regional referral hospital in Kenya using the World Health Organization prescribing indicators.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective, hospital-based study.

Setting: A tertiary, regional referral hospital located in Kenya.

Participants: All prescriptions retained at the outpatient pharmacy of the county referral hospital during the study period.

Main outcome measures: Prescribing practices as evaluated using the World Health Organization prescribing indicators.

Results: The study revealed a mixed profile of compliance to WHO-recommended good prescribing practices. Polypharmacy (average number of drugs  per encounter, 3.7), failure to prescribe drugs by their international non-proprietary names (43.3%), overprescribing of antibiotics (50.7%) and prescribing  drugs not contained in the national essential medicines list (66.8%) were the commonest manifestations of non-compliance. However, prescribing  patterns relating to injections were within permitted levels of frequencies (13.8%).

Conclusions: Inadequacies were noted across parameters, inviting further concerted efforts towards implementing relevant interventions to address the identified irrational prescribing practices. Collectively, these can help mitigate against unnecessary economic burden of cost of healthcare and drug- related adverse effects through, for example, drug-drug interactions. Moreover, the judicious use of antibiotics will contribute to the much-needed efforts  in stemming the tide of antibacterial resistance.