PRESCRIBING TRENDS OF DRUGS AND WHO CORE PRESCRIBING INDICATORS AMONG PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 0.8% to 2.8% of the Indian population. Understanding drug prescribing patterns is vital for enhancing rational drug use. Objectives: This study aims to analyse the prescribing patterns of drugs in psoriasis patients, using WHO core prescribing indicators and to characterize these patterns by demographic variables. Study Design: An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted in the dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital over one year, following IEC approval. Data were analysed using MS Excel. Results: A total of 148 psoriasis patients were enrolled, with an average age of 40.06 years and a male-to-female ratio of 3.9:1. A total of 701 drugs were prescribed, averaging 4.73 drugs per prescription, with 71% being generic. Additionally, fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) accounted for 104 of the prescriptions. Plaque psoriasis was the predominant clinical type, noted in 75.67% of cases, with steroids being the most commonly prescribed drug group. Conclusion: The findings reveal significant deficiencies in the prescribing patterns for psoriasis treatment. Implementing educational interventions for healthcare professionals is essential to promote rational drug use and improve patient management.