Drug utilization pattern and rational drug use atorthopedics and traumatology outpatient clinics:A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess theprescriptions of patients who were admitted to the orthopedicsand traumatology outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospitalaccording to the WHO prescribing indicators. Patients and methods: Between January 2020 and March 2020,a total of 1,024 patients (273 males, 751 females; mean age:51.9±13.9 years; range, 19 to 103 years) were included in thestudy. Only patients who were prescribed drugs and 18 yearsof age or older were included in the study. The WHO coreprescribing indicators were utilized for the assessment of rationaldrug use. The WHO prescribing indicators percentages betweenthe age categories were analyzed. The average number of drugsbetween the age categories was also examined. Results: The average number of drugs per encounter was 2.9.The percentage of encounters with an antibiotic prescribed was2.6% and with an injection prescribed was 10.7%. The percentageof drugs prescribed from essential drugs list was 33.8%. Therewere no prescriptions consisting generic name of drugs (0%).Polypharmacy was significantly higher in the ≥65 age groupcompared to the 18-44 age group (p=0.001). Conclusion: The percentage of encounters with an antibiotic andinjection prescribed were optimal according to WHO standards,while the average number of drugs per encounter was higher thanthe WHO ideal ranges. Unfortunately, the parameters such as thepercentage of prescribing with generic name and from essentialdrug list was far more behind the optimal range.