International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Reshma V, Dr. P.P Venugopal

Abstract
Objective: Irrational prescribing is a common problem in drug use. Rational prescribing can prevent & avoid this. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the rationality of prescriptions according to WHO core drug use indicators. Materials & Methods: 1070 prescriptions from in-patient departments were randomly analysed for rational prescribing retrospectively for 5 months (from July to November 2014) based on WHO drug use indicators. Results: Prescribing of brand name (54.11%) was more common than generic name (45.89%). An average of 5.3 drugs were prescribed per person. 6.63% of prescriptions were partially legible or no treatment was recorded in treatment chart.90.18% of total drugs prescribed were from EDL & 7.85% of prescriptions had fixed dose combinations. Cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. 3.36% of prescriptions have nil/incomplete diagnosis. Injectables were prescribed in 74.50% admissions. Conclusions: Prescribing by generic name is to be promoted to avoid confusion in understanding prescriptions; this also adheres to WHO standards of rational prescribing. Also emphasis should be given to promote use of drugs from EDL & to avoid incomplete/illegible prescriptions & to properly diagnose all the cases treated at the hospital.