Akande T M, Ologe M O
Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Ann Afr Med. 2007 Dec;6(4):186-9. doi: 10.4103/1596-3519.55699.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Expenditures due to irrational use of drugs have been a strain on the meagre health budgets of several developing countries and inappropriate prescribing has been identified in many health facilities in developing countries. This study examines the prescription pattern in a secondary health facility.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used in this study. Three hundred and three randomly selected prescriptions issued to patients attending out-patients' clinics in the facility over a period of three months were examined. Data obtained was analyzed using EPI-INFO 2000 computer software.
Mean number of drugs per prescription in the health facility is 3.99??.55. At least 4 drugs were prescribed in 61.6% of the prescriptions. Generic prescribing was generally low. Out of a total of 1219 drugs prescribed 511 (41.9%) were prescribed in generic names. Analgesics, antimalarials, antibiotics and antihypertensives accounted for 19.7%, 10.2%, 13.0% and 4.9% of the drugs prescribed respectively. Only 124 (40.9%) of the prescriptions had all drugs prescribed available in the health facility.
This study found practice of polypharmacy prevalent as found in other studies in developing countries among prescribers and prescription in generic names is low. Regular orientation and re-orientation of prescribers on rational drug prescription and prescription in generic names in conformity with national drug policies is necessary.
背景/目的：药物不合理使用造成的费用支出给一些发展中国家微薄的卫生预算带来了压力，而且在发展中国家的许多医疗机构中都发现了不恰当的处方行为。本研究调查了一家二级医疗机构的处方模式。
本研究采用描述性横断面调查。对该机构门诊三个月期间随机抽取的303张发给患者的处方进行了检查。使用EPI-INFO 2000计算机软件对获得的数据进行分析。
该医疗机构每张处方的平均用药数量为3.99±1.55种。61.6%的处方至少开了4种药。通用名处方的比例总体较低。在总共开出的1219种药物中，511种（41.9%）是以通用名开具的。镇痛药、抗疟药、抗生素和抗高血压药分别占所开药物的19.7%、10.2%、13.0%和4.9%。只有124张（40.9%）处方中的所有药物该医疗机构都有。
本研究发现，如同在发展中国家的其他研究中所发现的那样，多药联用的做法很普遍，而且通用名处方的比例较低。有必要按照国家药物政策，定期对开处方者进行合理用药处方和通用名处方方面的培训与再培训。
