The Compliance to WHO Guidelines for Prescription Writing in a Teaching Hospital at Lahore

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction/Background

Medical prescription is a legal order issued by a medical practitioner. An outcome of symptoms or disease depends upon standards of this document. An inaccuracy in a prescription may leads to therapeutic failure, financial and social consequences.  

Objectives:  It was aimed to analyze the quality of prescriptions and evaluate the extent of compliance to guidelines for prescription written in a teaching hospital.

Place and Duration of study

This study was conducted by faculty of Pharmacology Department and 3^rd year medical students in Sharif Medical Complex (SMC) Lahore during August-2018- August-2019

Material & Methods:

It was convenience, not random sampling method.  Prescriptions advised to   in-patients as well as patients reporting in Out Patient Department  (OPD) of Hospital were enrolled. Rationale of prescription writing were discussed. Omissions in prescriber and patient identifiers as well as selection of medicines dose, frequency and duration of drug intake were noted.

Results:

Very few generic names were found in 305 prescription. Patients at the age of  31-50 were 47%  (range 1-70 years). Legibility was in compliance 91.8%. Omission in diagnosis was 57.38%.    The omissions were 23.61%  in route of administration, 25.25% duration, 11.81% date of prescription and 25.57% signatures/stamps were missing. Number of drugs  prescribed were 1-3 (50%), 4-6(42%) 7-9 (5%) and 10-12 (3%).

Conclusion: This study confirms the legibility of prescriptions is good. The magnitude of omissions is high. The shortcomings highlighted in this work can be rectified.