Study of Drug Utilization Pattern in Acne Vulgaris in Skin Outpatient Department in Tertiary Health Care Centre

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is common skin disorder which dermatologists come across in day to day practice. Drug utilization studies are very useful to explore role of drugs in the society. It involves prescription, distribution, marketing and use of drugs and its different consequences like medical and socio-economic. Aims and Objective: To obtain information of drug prescription pattern in acne vulgaris in skin outpatient department and to evaluate pattern of prescription using World Health Organization (WHO) drug use prescribing indicators. Material and Methods: This was cross sectional observational study conducted by department of pharmacology in dermatology OPD in medical college and tertiary care centre from August 2015 to December 2017. During study period total 414 prescriptions of acne patients were analysed. Results: Out of 414 patients 226 (54.59%) were females and 188 (45.41 %) were males with male to female ratio was 1:1.20. Majority of patients belonged to 21-25 years (38.90%) followed by 15-20 (36.48%), 26-30 (18.59%), 31-35 (4.59%) and 36-40 (1.44%) with Mean age of 22.74 years. Grade II (52.66 %) consists of the majority of patients while others Grade I (35.27%), grade III (10.14%) and grade IV (1.93%). Monotherapy was prescribed in 35.26% cases and polytherapy in 64.74% cases. A total number of 950 drugs were prescribed out of them 306 (32.21%) were oral and 644 (67.79%) were topical, percentage of total fixed dose combination of topical preparations were 4%. Average number of drugs per prescription were 2.29. All drugs prescribed by prescribers are in brand names 76% (722 out of 950) of drugs were prescribed from national essential medicines list (NELM, 2015) and 19th WHO list of essential medicines, April 2015. Conclusion: Percentage of drugs prescribed in this study from National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) was satisfactory but shows complete use of Non-Generic (Branded) drugs. The prescription audit or the drug utilization studies can be used as further basis for the prescribers. Periodic drug audits must be conducted to reduce errors, make prescription rationalize and for effective management of acne vulgaris.