Prescription pattern of anxiolytic drugs in burn patients: a case study of national orthopaedic hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Anxiolytic drugs are essential in the management of cases where anxiety and insomnia are likely to be found. This study was therefore carried out to determine the prescription pattern of these drugs on burn patients and to ascertain their relevance in burn therapy. The study was carried out retrospectively by evaluating anxiolytics prescribed for burn patients at National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, Nigeria, from 2000 to 2004 using WHO Prescription Indicator Manual. It was found that in the two burn clinics for in – and out- patients, diazepam was the highest prescribed anxiolytic (60.93%), followed by bromazepam (33.63%); lorazepam, flunitrazepam and nitrazepam were rarely prescribed. Using Fdistribution statistical tool (in comparison of anxiolytics prescribed with antibiotics, haematinics, and NSAIDs), it was found that anxiolytics were relevant in the management of burn patients. The frequencies of anxiolytics prescribed for burn in-patients within the 5 year period were 9.13% (2000), 11.18% (2001), 8.91% (2002), 10.63% (2003) and 7.18% (2004). About 58.32±11.43% of all anxiolytics prescribed were injectables while 34.98±9.68% were generics. All the anxiolytics prescribed were Essential Drug List compliant.

Keywords: anxiolytics, prescription pattern, burns, Orthopaedic hospital