Yikna Berhan B, Atilaw Abay W, Yehualashet Awgichew S
Department of Pharmacy, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Clinical Pharmacy Unit, Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Debre Berhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
J Pharm Pract. 2025 Feb;38(1):81-92. doi: 10.1177/08971900241273176. Epub 2024 Aug 8.
Currently, irrational uses of medicines becoming global problem largely in developing countries like Ethiopia. Inappropriate prescribing is a major cause for poor treatment outcome and higher costs. Hence, this study was aimed to investigate medicine prescribing practice and prescription errors using WHO medicine-utilization core indicators. A hospital based retrospective cross sectional study design was used to evaluate prescribing practices and prescription errors from September to October, 2024 at the OPD pharmacy using systematic random sampling technique while a prospective approach was employed for facility indicators. Presence of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were evaluated using Medscape Online Drug Interaction Checker. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 and interpreted as tables and figures. A total of 1019 medicines were prescribed in 524 prescriptions and 81.6% (n = 832) were actually dispensed. The percentage of antibiotic, injections and medicine prescribed from Essential Drug List was 33.9% (n = 345),3.5% (n = 36) and 92.3% (n = 941) respectively. The most frequently prescribed class of medicine were antibiotics 33.9% (n = 345). 65.1% (n = 341) were ≥2 medicines and 8.3% (n = 85) had at least one potential DDIs. Among overall DDIs, the monitor closely and serious level was 60% (n = 51) and 11.8% (n = 10) respectively. The average prescription error was 4.3. Prescription errors due to failure to mention diagnosis was 40.6% (n = 213). Based on findings, the prescribing practices had defects to the optimum value recommended by WHO and showed high prescription errors. Antibiotics prescribing was the major problem in practice. Remarkable DDIs were observed in prescribed medicines. Therefore, designing and implementing policy to improve medicine use practice is highly indispensable.
目前，药物的不合理使用在很大程度上已成为一个全球性问题，在像埃塞俄比亚这样的发展中国家尤为突出。不恰当的处方是治疗效果不佳和成本增加的主要原因。因此，本研究旨在使用世界卫生组织的药物利用核心指标来调查药物处方实践和处方错误。采用基于医院的回顾性横断面研究设计，于2024年9月至10月在门诊药房使用系统随机抽样技术评估处方实践和处方错误，而设施指标采用前瞻性方法。使用Medscape在线药物相互作用检查器评估潜在药物 - 药物相互作用（DDIs）的存在情况。数据使用SPSS 25版进行分析，并以表格和图表形式进行解读。在524张处方中共开出了1019种药物，其中81.6%（n = 832）实际配药。抗生素、注射剂和基本药物清单中开出的药物百分比分别为33.9%（n = 345）、3.5%（n = 36）和92.3%（n = 941）。最常开出的药物类别是抗生素，占33.9%（n = 345）。65.1%（n = 341）的处方包含≥2种药物，8.3%（n = 85）的处方至少有一个潜在的DDIs。在所有DDIs中，密切监测和严重级别分别为60%（n = 51）和11.8%（n = 10）。平均处方错误率为4.3。因未提及诊断导致的处方错误占40.6%（n = 213）。基于研究结果，处方实践未达到世界卫生组织推荐的最佳值，存在较高的处方错误。抗生素处方是实践中的主要问题。在开出的药物中观察到了显著的DDIs。因此，设计和实施改善药物使用实践的政策非常必要。
