Department of Pharmacy Practice, Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Mangalore-574143 Karnataka, India
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the drug utilization patterns in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital using the World Health Organization (WHO) core prescribing indicators. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medication prescriptions in the ICU was conducted. The WHO core prescribing indicators, including the average number of drugs per prescription, percentage of prescriptions involving injections, percentage of prescriptions involving antibiotics, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name, and percentage of drugs prescribed from the Essential Drug List/Formulary, were calculated. Results: The study included 100 patients admitted to the ICU. The average number of drugs prescribed per patient was found to be 11.2 , exceeding the recommended norm. Injections were prescribed in 78% of the prescriptions, which surpassed the ideal threshold. Antibiotics were prescribed in 99% of the prescriptions, significantly higher than the standard range. The percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 14.1%, indicating scope for improvement. The percentage of drugs prescribed from the Essential Drug List/Formulary was 50.17%, demonstrating moderate adherence. Conclusion: The analysis of drug utilization patterns in the ICU highlighted areas of concern, such as polypharmacy, excessive use of injections, and high antibiotic prescribing rates. These findings emphasize the need for interventions to optimize prescribing practices, promote rational drug use, and enhance adherence to essential drug lists. Addressing these patterns can improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and mitigate the risks associated with inappropriate medication use in the ICUcosts, and mitigate the risks associated with inappropriate medication use in the ICU.
Abel sabu, Viresh. k. chandur Analysis Of Drug Utilization Patterns In The Intensive Care Unit Of A Tertiary Care Hospital Using Who Core Prescribing Indicators: A Retrospective Study, Int. J. in Pharm. Sci., 2023, Vol 1, Issue 11, 542-550. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10207442
10.5281/zenodo.10207442
