Abstract
Wahed et al.
Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 12, Issue 9, 54-58
54
Original Article
ASSESSMENT OF DRUG UTILIZATION AMONG PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN PRIVATE CLINIC AND
PUBLIC HOSPITAL OF BANGLADESH
AHSAN UDDIN1, TRIPTI RANI PAUL 2, MONALISA MONWAR 2, SHAHIN SARKER 3 , CHAND SULTANA 4, MIR IMAM
IBNE WAHED1*
1Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh, 2Department of Pharmacy, Varendra University, Rajshahi
6204, Bangladesh, 3Department of Pharmacy, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7803, Bangladesh, 4Department of
Pharmacy, Mawlana Bhasani Science and Technology University, Tangail 1901, Bangladesh
Email: drmirimam@gmail.com
Received: 17 Aug 2018, Revised and Accepted: 20 Jul 2020
ABSTRACT
Objective: Aim of the study was to assess drug utilization among pediatric patients in both private practice and hospital settings in Rajshahi city,
Bangladesh.
Methods: This observational study was conducted during a period of two months (March to April) in 2017. Prescriptions were randomly collected
from patients and recorded in a predesigned questionnaire form. The data analysis was carried out by using a statistical software package GraphPad
Prism.
Results: The study involved a total of 185 patients, of which 62.70% were male and 37.30% were female. The patient’s age ranges from 1 mo-12 y
and highest number of patients visited physicians belong to group 1 mo-1 y (47.57%). Most commonly occurring disease conditions were
pneumonia (24%), the leading cause of hospitalizations among the children's age group of 1 mo-1 y. The results indicated that physician’s
handwriting was not clear and legible in 50 (27.03%) prescriptions. A total of 468 drugs were prescribed with an average of 2.53 per prescription.
However, none of the drugs were prescribed by generic name. The most commonly prescribed drugs were antibiotics 173 (93.5%). About 78%
patients were exposed to antibiotics, of which single antibiotic was prescribed in 116 (62.70%) and two antibiotics in 23 (12.43%) prescriptions.
Among the drugs, NSAIDS 65 (35.14%), anti-histamine 57 (30.81%), anti-asthmatic 49 (26.49%) drugs were assigned in prescriptions followed by
vitamin and minerals 51 (27.57%). Steroids 57 (30.81%) and hypnotics 26 (14.05%) were also accounted in many prescriptions. Interestingly,
antibiotics were indiscriminately prescribed in private practices without any bacteriological examinations, whereas in hospital settings, most of the
treatment was initiated after culture and sensitivity tests.
Conclusion: Children were highly exposed to antibiotics, steroids and hypnotics in both private practice and hospital settings. So Medical
practitioners should be aware of current guidelines for prescriptions of antibiotics and drugs in chil
