ASSESSMENT OF PRESCRIBERS ADHERENCE TO THE BASIC STANDARDS OF PRESCRIPTION ORDER WRITING IN SERBO AND ASSENDABO HEALTH CENTERS, JIMMA ZONE, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Background: Since prescribing is the first and foremost component in the process of using drugs, it is a vital element in rational drug use. The concept of rational prescribing requires that the prescriber follows correct and complete prescription writing.

Objective: To assess prescribers adherence to the basic standards of prescription order writing in Serbo and Assendao health centers.

Methodology: In this retrospective study, a total of 424 prescriptions were selected as a sample from the two health centers using systematic random sampling technique and data was collected using pre-tested format from January 3 to 28,2007.

Result: In 3.3%, 4.7%, 70.8%, and 4.7%, 18.9%, 82.1% of the prescriptions, respectively, Age, Sex and card no of patients were not recorded. In 24.5%, 33% and 55.2%, 93.9% of the prescriptions date and signature of the prescriber were omitted, respectively. In 85% of the prescriptions, address of the patient was omitted in Serbo health center, but none of the prescriptions contained address of the patient in Assendabo health center. Out of the prescribed drugs, 43.4%, 39.8%, 14.3% and 33%, 47.8%, 10.3% of the drugs respectively, didn’t indicate the strength, dosage form and doses. In 20.7%, 38.6%, 4.8%and 15.6%, 32.7%, 5.3% of the prescribed drugs, frequency of administration, route of administration, and total quantity of drugs or length of treatment course were omitted, respectively. Out of the prescribed drugs 64.3% and 61.2% were written in Generic names.8% and 3.8% of the prescriptions were found to be illegible, and in both health centers, no prescription had special advice or warning.

Conclusion: The finding of this study showed that, in General, there is poor adherence to the basic standards of prescription order writing in both health centers. In order to improve adherence, various educational, managerial and regulatory interventions should be designed and implemented by the concerned technical and administrative bodies.