Abstract

TO EVALUATE PRESCRIBING PATTERNS THROUGH A PRESCRIPTION AUDIT IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE FACILITY IN INDIA

Dr. Twinkle*, Dr. Afshan Ara, Dr. Mehak Malhotra, Dr. Isheeta Pandita, Dr. Sunidhi Chauhan, Dr. Chehak Chanda, Parmila Kumari, Sajal Thakur, Shivangi Verma, Abrar Ahmed and Dr. Piyush Tripathi

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Abstract

Background: Prescription auditing is essential to ensure reasonable drug use and optimize clinical practices. This study examines trends in morbidity, drug use, and prescription patterns in an Indian tertiary care hospital. Methods: From October to December 2023, a prospective, observational, non-interventional study was carried out in a tertiary hospital that has received NABH approval. Three hundred inpatient prescriptions in all were chosen at random and examined for drug use patterns, compliance with STGs, and completeness of prescriptions. Result: Antibiotics (35%), antihypertensives (28%), and analgesics (23%) were the most commonly prescribed classes, with an average of 4.3 medications per prescription. 72% of prescriptions followed STGs, and 55% of drugs were generic. Among the most frequent mistakes were polypharmacy (15%), improper use of antibiotics (18%), and failure to modify dosages for older patients (10%). Conclusion: The audit identified important areas for improvement, including lowering the use of antibiotics inappropriately, increasing the prescription of generic drugs, and making sure that treatment guidelines are better followed. Safer and more efficient pharmaceutical procedures can be greatly enhanced by routine prescription audits.

Keywords: Prescription Audit, Rational Drug Use, Drug Utilization, Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs), Polypharmacy, and Medication Errors.