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Published:
Feb 6, 2004Keywords:
Adjunct therapies rational treatment anti-malarials and analgesics
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The role of Adjunct Therapies in the rational treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria
Abstract
Objective: To determine the role of adjunct therapies in the rational treatment of uncomplicated malaria.
Methods: Retrospective patient record review. Six hundred Patients were selected through both stratified and systematic sampling methods. Diagnosis was by both clinical symptoms and treatment. Records were analysed for drug use indicators and rationality of management, Data was collected between September-November 1999.
Result : Four hundred and eighty six (81%) records met the operational definition. Average drug use per patient was 4.0 ± 1.4. Injections were administered to 27.4% and antibiotics received by 25.1%. Only 22% of patients were rationally (well) treated. The most frequently prescribed classes of drugs were anti-malarias (24.8%), analgesics (25.7%), multivitamins (20.4%) and anthistamines (13.2%). These classes of drugs (adjunct therapies) make up about half of all drugs prescribed. Many of the drugs were unjustified and were harmful. A positive and significant relationship was established between the number of complaints given by patients and the number of drugs prescribed by the physician (r=0.29, p=0.000), indicating symptomatic treatment.
Conclusion: Adjunct therapies contribute significantly to irrational treatment of malaria while patients' complaints and expectation influence physician prescribing.
KEY WORDS: Adjunct therapies, rational treatment, anti-malarials, and analgesics
[Nig J Clinical Practice Vol.5(1) 2002: 32-36]
Methods: Retrospective patient record review. Six hundred Patients were selected through both stratified and systematic sampling methods. Diagnosis was by both clinical symptoms and treatment. Records were analysed for drug use indicators and rationality of management, Data was collected between September-November 1999.
Result : Four hundred and eighty six (81%) records met the operational definition. Average drug use per patient was 4.0 ± 1.4. Injections were administered to 27.4% and antibiotics received by 25.1%. Only 22% of patients were rationally (well) treated. The most frequently prescribed classes of drugs were anti-malarias (24.8%), analgesics (25.7%), multivitamins (20.4%) and anthistamines (13.2%). These classes of drugs (adjunct therapies) make up about half of all drugs prescribed. Many of the drugs were unjustified and were harmful. A positive and significant relationship was established between the number of complaints given by patients and the number of drugs prescribed by the physician (r=0.29, p=0.000), indicating symptomatic treatment.
Conclusion: Adjunct therapies contribute significantly to irrational treatment of malaria while patients' complaints and expectation influence physician prescribing.
KEY WORDS: Adjunct therapies, rational treatment, anti-malarials, and analgesics
[Nig J Clinical Practice Vol.5(1) 2002: 32-36]
