A Prospective Study of Drug Utilization Pattern in Patients from Orthopaedic Department in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Drug utilization research was defined by WHO in 1977 as the marketing, distribution, prescription, and use of drugs in a society, with special emphasis on the resulting medical, social and economic consequence. Our objective of this study was to observe drug utilization pattern in patients from Orthopedic department IPD and OPD (Indoor and Outdoor Patients) in a teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective and observational study conducted on 100 Patients case file where study in orthopedic department IPD and OPD (Indoor and Outdoor Patients) of Dhiraj Hospital, Smt. Bhikhiben Kanjibhai Shah Medical Institute and Research Centre, Vadodara. Results: In our study a total of 100 Patients undergoing treatment with different kinds of drugs and it was observed that 58 numbers of patients (58%) were Male whereas 42 number of patients (42%) were female. 23% were diagnosed with pain in knee. It was noted that Maximum patients affected with co-morbidity were Diabetes Mellitus (53.33%). Total 230 (30.74%) drugs were prescribed with Generic name and 518 (69.25%) drugs were prescribed with Brand name. Ranitidine was most commonly prescribed drug i.e., in 74 patients (20.49%). The total average cost of drug treatment for IPD patients was Rs. 114261.07; Average cost per prescription for IPD patients was Rs. 1565.22. Average cost per prescription for OPD patients was Rs. 28120. 3. Average cost per prescription for OPD patients was Rs. 1041.49. Conclusion: Rational use of medicines is important in achieving standard healthcare services. Information on drug use research allows clinician to compare their approach to treat certain diseases. Therefore, current research work was useful to observe the prescribing pattern of drugs used in orthopedic department.