Drug prescribing pattern in three levels of health care facilities in the north and central senatorial districts of Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This retrospective cross- sectional survey critically assessed the drug prescribing pattern of doctors at the three levels of health care facilities (HFs) in the North and Central senatorial districts of Edo State, Nigeria, and compares the findings with a similar study done ten years ago in the same area. With a combination of random and systematic sampling techniques, 2,500 general outpatient prescriptions in the year 2007 were examined using standards described in the WHO Prescribing Indicators Manual. Thirty percent (30%) of hospitals was selected for the study. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS software (version 16). Tests of statistical significance were done using chi square contingency cross-tabulation and goodness of fit. Results showed that there is significant statistical differences in the number of drugs prescribed per patient encounter, percentage of encounter with an injection prescribed, in adherence to WHO prescribing guidelines; prescribing according to drug classes and generic names P<0.05. Poly-pharmacy and irrational prescribing appears to be the rule in GH and PH especially with continued prescribing of banned drugs and use of the injection route. The prescribing pattern in the three categories of hospitals fell short of WHO standards, especially in the GH and PH.

Keywords: Drug use, prescribing pattern, Health facilities, prescribing indicators