Rational Use of Medicines by Patients in Galle Area

Abstract

Background: There are many adverse consequences of irrational use of medications. Irrational use of medications will reduce the quality of treatment which will result in increased morbidity and mortality, development of resistance to antimicrobial drugs and increased number of adverse drug reactions. World Health Organization established prescribing indicators and recommended values to promote rational use of medications. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the rational use of medicines by patients who attended health care facilities (public & private) in Galle municipality area. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at outpatient department pharmacy of Teaching Hospital and a selected community pharmacies with in Galle municipality area. Outpatient encounters treated for acute illnesses were included in the study. Data were collected prospectively using prescriptions and drug used was recorded in the indicator data collecting sheet. Results and conclusions: Total of 400 prescriptions were analyzed. Average number of drugs per encounter was 2.88. The percentage of drugs were prescribed by generic name was 49.35%. Percentage of encounters with an antibiotic/s and percentage of drugs prescribed from essential drug list were 52.0% and 72.85% respectively. None of the encounters observed with an injection prescribed. The results of this study demonstrated that all the prescribing indicator values were far from recommended level of rational use by WHO. Specially, in terms of prescribing antibiotics and generic name of medicines.