DRUG PRESCRIBING PATTERN IN DERMATOLOGY IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN WESTERN NEPAL

Abstract

The aim was to monitor drug prescribing for patients attending the dermatology
services (OPD) of Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH). 292 prescriptions of patients
attending the dermatology OPD of MTH attached to MCOMS, Nepal were collected
by a random once weekly survey between July 2000 to June 2001. This information
was analysed in consultation with clinical collaborators and critically evaluated using
WHO guidelines. The average number of drugs prescribed was 2.42 drugs/prescription.
Only 13%(91 out of 708) of the drugs were prescribed in generic names. The most
commonly prescribed topical drugs were topical steroids and their combinations (28%)
followed by topical antifungal agents (12.5%). The most commonly prescribed systemic
agents were antihistamines (47.6%) followed by antimicrobials (20%) and antifungal
agents (12%). Frequency of administration and site of application were specified in
the majority of the prescriptions (82%) of topically administered drugs but dose/
strength of topical preparations were specified in only 11 prescriptions. The duration
was not specified for 9 of the systemically prescribed drugs and 341 of all the topical
drugs prescribed. In two patients, 2 medium or 2 high potency topical steroids were
prescribed together with systemic steroid administration. Patients who received
systemic antiiungal agents (34) also got a topical one simultaneously. In this study, a
great majority of the drugs were prescribed in brand names (87 %). Drugs should be
prescribed in their generic names to * avoid confusion and to minimize the costs. In
this study, on some occasions, prescriptions may have been written imprecisely/
inappropriately.

Key Words: Prescribing pattern, Dermatology, Nepal.