Evaluation of rational prescribing in a hospital paediatric outpatient clinic in Nigeria

ABSTRACT:

Background

Irrational prescribing is a continuing public health issue in low/middle-income countries. This study evaluated the drug use pattern of medicines in paediatrics aged below 12 years attending the outpatient paediatric clinic of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Method

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted using patients’ medical records who attended the outpatient paediatric clinic from 1 January to 30 April 2022. The WHO prescribing indicators and guidelines for investigating drug use in health facilities were used.

Result

A total of 800 prescriptions containing 2723 drugs were analysed, with a mean number of drugs per prescription of 3.4. A total of 651 patients (81.3%) had at least one antibiotic, and the number of encount

SUBMITTER: Okoye B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9562308 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature