DRUG PRESCRIBING PATTERN IN SURGICAL WARDS IN A TERTIARY HEALTH CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Aim and Objective: evaluate the pattern of drug prescription in patients admitted in surgery wards of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Method: A prospective cross section observational study was conducted over a period of 6-months from January 2021 to June 2021 in surgical ward at tertiary care teaching hospital in Maharashtra. Patients above 18 years and receiving medical treatment pre- and post-surgery were included in the study. Data analyzed by using the WHO core prescription indicators. Results: 600 patients with surgical operations were included in the study. The mean duration of hospital stay is 10 days. The patients between the ages of 40-65 years constituted the higher number with a mean age of 50.81 years. There was male preponderance 58.17%. The major diagnostic condition were observed in the surgical ward was skin and soft tissue infections (35.17%) followed by Appendicitis (16.67%), Hernia (16.17%) and Diabetic foot ulcer (11.67%). The average number of drugs per prescription was 6.08. Antibiotics, analgesics, ranitidine and intravenous fluids accounted for majority of the drugs prescribed. Percentage of prescription in which an antibiotic and an injection prescribed was 100%. Percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 43.2%. Percentage of drugs prescribed from National List of Essential Medicines 2015 was (97.41%). Conclusion: Polypharmacy, overuse of antibiotics was common in practice. Polypharmacy should be avoided whenever possible. However, in our study drugs prescribing according to the national essential list which is very good positive practice.