Medication prescribing practices of healthcare professionals in primary health centres in Niger State, Nigeria
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess medication prescribing practices of healthcare professionals in primary health centres in Niger State, Nigeria. The study was carried out across the three Senatorial Districts in the state, 1 Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) per senatorial district (total, 3 PHCs). Drug prescribing patterns of healthcare workers, including medical officers, nurses, and community health officers were assessed. Data were analyzed using WHO’s drug use indicators, including average number of drugs per encounter, percentage of (drugs prescribed by generic name, encounter with an antibiotic prescribed, encounter with injection prescribed, and drug prescribed from the state’s essential drug list or formulary). A total of 1,440 encounters were reviewed, and the overall average number of drugs per encounter was 5.6 (range 1 to 12 drugs), and 73% of the overall encounters had between 4 and 7 prescribed drugs. 71% of the drugs were prescribed in generic names, while 82% were from the state essential drug list for primary healthcare centres. Antibiotics and injections were prescribed in 79% and 56% of encounter, respectively. Malaria/fever was the most frequently (56%) encountered medical condition, while the most frequently prescribed therapeutic class of drugs were antibiotics (24.7%), anti-malarial drugs (20.5%), analgesic/antipyretics (18.9%), vitamins/minerals (18.4%). Our study revealed inappropriate drug prescribing at the PHCs. We recommend interventions that would improve drug use practices at the primary care level; such interventions would positively impact on the quality of care received by patients at this level of healthcare.
Keywords: Healthcare professionals; Medication prescribing practices; Niger State; Primary healthcare; Rational use of drugs
Copyright of articles published shall reside exclusively with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos.
DECLARATION & COPYRIGHT TRANSFER
I/We the undersigned author(s) of article entitled
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Declare as follows:
- The manuscript submitted to Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources is original and has not been and will be published, whole or in part, in print or electronic format, in any other journal. It is also not being currently considered for publication in any journal.
- The submitted manuscript is a joint decision of all the coauthors.
- Each author has participated sufficiently in the work to warrant his or her inclusion in the list of authors. To this end, each author takes responsibility for appropriate portions of the manuscript.
- Authors have obtained necessary approval to carry out the experiments on animals and human subjects. Approval certificates will be furnished, if required by publishers or editors of the journal.
- Authors do not have any conflict of interest (financial or otherwise) other than those declared.
- If the manuscript is accepted for publication, the authors transfer and assign copyright of the article referenced above to Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources.
Name & Signature of authors
1. 2.
- 4.
- 6.
- 8.
Corresponding authors name address, affiliation and email:
