African Journal of
Pharmacy and Pharmacology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0816
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPP
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 2277

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of drug prescribing practices in private and general hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Mohamed A. Afify
  • Mohamed A. Afify
  • Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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Naiyer Shahzad*
  • Naiyer Shahzad*
  • Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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Nazik Tawfik
  • Nazik Tawfik
  • Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Al- Qassim University, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
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Ibrahim A. Ibrahim
  • Ibrahim A. Ibrahim
  • Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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Zainularifeen Abduljaleel
  • Zainularifeen Abduljaleel
  • Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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Wajahatullah Khan
  • Wajahatullah Khan
  • Department of Basic Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Amal M. Mahfoz
  • Amal M. Mahfoz
  • Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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Saeed S. Al-Ghamdi
  • Saeed S. Al-Ghamdi
  • Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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  •  Received: 12 March 2015
  •  Accepted: 01 July 2015
  •  Published: 22 October 2015

Abstract

The study of prescribing pattern is a significant constituent of medical review, which helps in monitoring, evaluating and building required modifications in the prescribing practices to attain a rational and cost effective medical care. The present study determined the trends in drug prescription pattern of clinicians in private and general hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. One thousand two hundred and thirty two prescriptions were collected from private and general hospitals between March and September, 2013. The prescriptions were subjected to analysis using the World Health Organization (WHO) drug use indicators. The study cleared that all collected prescriptions were titled with the name of hospital and some were handwritten and the others were computer printouts. Readability was evident in 58.3% of handwritten prescriptions. The name, address, date, license number, and signature of the prescriber was presented in 71.8, 95.1, 71.8, 47.4 and 77.9% of all prescriptions, respectively. Name of patient, age, sex and address were presented in 81.5, 64.0, 61.0 and 20.5% in all prescriptions, respectively. The diagnosis of complaint or a history of allergy was presented in 44.5 and 12.7%, respectively of all prescriptions. The prescribed drugs in a generic name were 32.8% of all prescriptions. The strength, the drug dosage form, the route and frequency of administration of the prescribed drug were presented in 84.1, 58.1, 33.8 and 93.2% of all prescriptions, respectively whereas, duration of treatment was mentioned in only 12.0% of total prescriptions. The average number of drugs per encounter was 2.8. Prescribers were prescribed one, two, three, four, five or more than five drugs per prescription in 1.7, 41.1, 35.3, 16.2, 3.7 and 2.3%, respectively. This study revealed that it is necessary to further improve drugs prescribing practice. This calls for sustained interventional strategies and periodic review at all levels of healthcare for the avoidance of negative consequences of inappropriate prescription. Polypharmacy and low rate of generic prescriptions remain problems in healthcare facilities.

Key words: Prescribing practice, drug use indicator, hospitals, prescriptions.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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